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Research: FERNANDEZ and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 32
Abstract
FERNANDEZ and colleagues, Department of Pediatrics, and University of British Columbia School of Nursing, British Columbias Childrens Hospital, Vancouver Canada write that alternative and complementary therapies are infrequently studied in paediatric populations . The authors conducted a population-based survey with the aim of helping health care professionals to identify and counsel parents who may use such therapies.
Background
Methodology
The parents of 583 paediatric patients, diagnosed with cancer in British Columbia between 1989 and 1995, were retrospectively surveyed. The prevalence and factors which influenced the use and nonuse of alternative and complementary therapies were estimated.
Results
42% of the 366 respondents used alternative and complementary therapies. The most commonly used alternative therapies were herbal teas, plant extracts and therapeutic vitamins . The most commonly used complementary therapies were relaxation/imagery, massage and therapeutic touch. The factors which influenced the use of these therapies were: prior use prior positive attitudes towards these remedies soliciting information from family and friends or from alternative care givers, high risk of death at diagnosis and advanced education of the father or mother. The parents who used alternative/complementary therapies did so in conjunction with conventional medicine (98%). The most common reasons cited for nonuse were lack of knowledge and fear of interference with conventional treatment. No parent believed that the quality of life of their child deteriorated due to the use of alternative/complementary therapies.
Conclusion
The use of alternative and complementary therapies is common in paediatric oncology. Factors associated with undertaking use of these therapies have been identified.
References
Fernandez CV et al. Alternative and complementary therapy use in pediatric oncology patients in British Columbia Childrens Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. J Clin Oncol. 16(4): 1279-86. Apr 1998.
