2016, Number 1
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Gac Med Mex 2016; 152 (1)
The use of alternative or complementary treatment in pediatric oncologic patients: Survey of 100 cases in a level III attention institute
Isaac-Otero G, Molina-Alonso D, Asencio-López L, Leal-Leal C
Language: Spanish
References: 29
Page: 7-12
PDF size: 79.27 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Alternative medicine is well accepted and widely used in Mexico, so we researched the frequency and causes
of the use of alternative or complementary treatment (ACT) in pediatric oncologic patients at the Instituto Nacional de
Pediatría (INP).
Methods: One hundred questionnaires were applied to caregivers of children with cancer in a course of
100 hundred consecutive patients.
Results: Fifty-one percent of caregivers interviewed accepted the use of some kind
of ACT; biologic therapies were the most frequent treatments used, and 73% felt satisfied with the results. Caregivers told
their physicians they were using ACT in 35% of the questionnaires analyzed, and only 2% of the physicians asked directly
about its use. None of the caregivers substituted or stopped allopathic treatment.
Analysis: These questionnaires reveal that
more than a half of the caregivers use ACT. We believe superstitious and cultural beliefs, as well as the desire of the
caregivers to participate actively in their patient’s treatment, are the main causes of the use of ACT; nevertheless, some donot notify their physicians and this may affect chemotherapy treatment in ways not investigated yet.
Conclusions: The wide
use of ACT in Mexico obliges every physician to enquire into it intentionally; it is therefore necessary to establish a stratification
risk according to the combination of ACT and allopathic treatment used.
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