A Längler1, C Spix, S Gottschling, N Graf, P Kaatsch. 1. Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus, Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Herdecke. a.laengler@gemeinschaftskrankenhaus.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are no published data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric oncology in Germany. PATIENTS/ METHOD: All parents of children, who where diagnosed a disease registered in the German Childhood Registry in 2001 were sent a questionnaire to evaluate possible CAM-use. RESULTS: 1 602 questionnaires were sent to the families, from whom 1 063 sent the questionnaire back to us. They reported a 35 % CAM-use-rate. The probability to use CAM was positively influenced by preexisting experience with CAM, higher social level and poor prognosis. 71 % of the users discussed the CAM-use with a physician. The reason for CAM-use seldom was missing trust in conventional medicine. 89 % of the CAM-users would recommend CAM-use to other parents in a comparable situation. CONCLUSIONS: The reported CAM-use rate of 35 % in pediatric oncology in Germany is as reported in the international literature for other European countries. Essential parts of CAM-advise and -prescription are done by non-professionals, so that there is a need to get competence in CAM in pediatric oncology in Germany.
BACKGROUND: There are no published data on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric oncology in Germany. PATIENTS/ METHOD: All parents of children, who where diagnosed a disease registered in the German Childhood Registry in 2001 were sent a questionnaire to evaluate possible CAM-use. RESULTS: 1 602 questionnaires were sent to the families, from whom 1 063 sent the questionnaire back to us. They reported a 35 % CAM-use-rate. The probability to use CAM was positively influenced by preexisting experience with CAM, higher social level and poor prognosis. 71 % of the users discussed the CAM-use with a physician. The reason for CAM-use seldom was missing trust in conventional medicine. 89 % of the CAM-users would recommend CAM-use to other parents in a comparable situation. CONCLUSIONS: The reported CAM-use rate of 35 % in pediatric oncology in Germany is as reported in the international literature for other European countries. Essential parts of CAM-advise and -prescription are done by non-professionals, so that there is a need to get competence in CAM in pediatric oncology in Germany.
Authors: Alfred Längler; Claudia Spix; Friedrich Edelhäuser; Genn Kameda; Peter Kaatsch; Georg Seifert Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2010-09-22 Impact factor: 2.629
Authors: Tatjana Magi; Claudia E Kuehni; Loredana Torchetti; Laura Wengenroth; Sonja Lüer; Martin Frei-Erb Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-12-22 Impact factor: 3.240