Factors associated with utilization of nonproven cancer therapies in Turkey - A study of 135 patients from a single center
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER, cilt.9, sa.6, ss.452-458, 2001 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 9 Sayı: 6
- Basım Tarihi: 2001
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s005200100238
- Dergi Adı: SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.452-458
- Anahtar Kelimeler: nonproven cancer treatment, unconventional cancer treatment, herbal medicine, stinging nettle, URTICA-DIOICA AGGLUTININ, COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, UNITED-STATES, SUPERANTIGEN, PREVALENCE
- Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
In their search for a cure, a significant number of cancer patients use nonproven treatment (NPT) methods. However, little is known about patient and disease characteristics associated with the use of these methods. In this trial, we evaluated the prevalence of and the factors associated with the usage of nonproven cancer remedies in a teaching hospital in Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 135 cancer patients attending the outpatient clinics of a medical oncology department. Patients' demographic data, their usage of non-proven methods, and possible contributing factors were explored. Our cohort mainly comprised poor patients with only primary school education. Overall, 50% of our patients had used or were using NPT methods. Medicinal herbs (mainly stinging nettle) were the most frequently used remedy. In contrast, such "complementary therapies" as exercise, relaxation, and meditation were not employed. In multivariate analysis, only duration of disease was found to be significantly associated with NPT utilization [P=0.05, relative risk (RR)=1.94]. In addition, patient education level was marginally significant (P=0.07, RR=0.36). Apart from long, duration of disease and being better educated, no other clinical, social, economic and cultural factors evaluated were associated with the use of NPT in our group of Turkish patients. Since these treatments are sometimes costly and have questionable efficacy and toxicity, proper scientific trials are needed to clarify whether such methods have a real role in cancer management.