Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology
Background. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high among children and youths with chronic illnesses, including cancer. The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and patterns of CAM use among pediatric oncology outpatients in two academic clinics in Canada. Procedu...
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Series: | Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/527163 |
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doaj-5725c504a1bc4db59260311729cdfe872020-11-25T00:28:42ZengHindawi LimitedEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine1741-427X1741-42882013-01-01201310.1155/2013/527163527163Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric OncologyRafiaa Valji0Denise Adams1Simon Dagenais2Tammy Clifford3Lola Baydala4W. James King5Sunita Vohra6Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, CanadaCARE Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T5K 0L4, CanadaPalladian Health, West Seneca, NY 14224, USADepartments of Pediatrics, and of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, CanadaDivision of Pediatric Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 8B19-11111 Jasper Ave, Edmonton General Hospital, Edmonton, AB, T5K 0L4, CanadaBackground. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high among children and youths with chronic illnesses, including cancer. The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and patterns of CAM use among pediatric oncology outpatients in two academic clinics in Canada. Procedure. A survey was developed to ask patients (or their parents/guardians) presenting to oncology clinics at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa about current or previous use of CAM products and practices. Results. Of the 137 families approached, 129 completed the survey. Overall CAM use was 60.5% and was not significantly different between the two hospitals. The most commonly reported reason for not using CAM was lack of knowledge about it. The most common CAM products ever used were multivitamins (86.5%), vitamin C (43.2%), cold remedies (28.4%), teething remedies (27.5%), and calcium (23.0%). The most common CAM practices ever used were faith healing (51.0%), massage (46.8%), chiropractic (27.7%), and relaxation (25.5%). Many patients (40.8%) used CAM products at the same time as prescription drugs. Conclusion. CAM use was high among patients at two academic pediatric oncology clinics. Although most respondents felt that their CAM use was helpful, many were not discussing it with their physicians.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/527163 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rafiaa Valji Denise Adams Simon Dagenais Tammy Clifford Lola Baydala W. James King Sunita Vohra |
spellingShingle |
Rafiaa Valji Denise Adams Simon Dagenais Tammy Clifford Lola Baydala W. James King Sunita Vohra Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
author_facet |
Rafiaa Valji Denise Adams Simon Dagenais Tammy Clifford Lola Baydala W. James King Sunita Vohra |
author_sort |
Rafiaa Valji |
title |
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology |
title_short |
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology |
title_full |
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology |
title_fullStr |
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Survey of Its Use in Pediatric Oncology |
title_sort |
complementary and alternative medicine: a survey of its use in pediatric oncology |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
issn |
1741-427X 1741-4288 |
publishDate |
2013-01-01 |
description |
Background. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high among children and youths with chronic illnesses, including cancer. The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and patterns of CAM use among pediatric oncology outpatients in two academic clinics in Canada. Procedure. A survey was developed to ask patients (or their parents/guardians) presenting to oncology clinics at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa about current or previous use of CAM products and practices. Results. Of the 137 families approached, 129 completed the survey. Overall CAM use was 60.5% and was not significantly different between the two hospitals. The most commonly reported reason for not using CAM was lack of knowledge about it. The most common CAM products ever used were multivitamins (86.5%), vitamin C (43.2%), cold remedies (28.4%), teething remedies (27.5%), and calcium (23.0%). The most common CAM practices ever used were faith healing (51.0%), massage (46.8%), chiropractic (27.7%), and relaxation (25.5%). Many patients (40.8%) used CAM products at the same time as prescription drugs. Conclusion. CAM use was high among patients at two academic pediatric oncology clinics. Although most respondents felt that their CAM use was helpful, many were not discussing it with their physicians. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/527163 |
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