Khursheda Akhtar1, Khodeza Akhtar2, M Mizanur Rahman3. 1. Department of Community Medicine, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2. Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong, Bangladesh. 3. Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Various treatment options including alternative medicine is available in underdeveloped countries which attracts easily the community with low profile. This study aimed to find perception of the use and mode use of alternative medicine (AM) by Bangladeshi Breast cancer patients which may influence timely treatment seeking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed to determine the spectrum in use of alternative medicine and compare the use of alternative medicine with their delay in presentation. Patients were selected randomly from July 2015-June 2016 in a specialized public cancer hospital of Dhaka city. Face to face interview was taken from diagnosed breast cancer patients, collected in pre-structured data sheet, SPSS was used for statical tests. RESULTS: Out of 200 respondents, about half of the respondents 46.5% (93) first sought help to alternative medicine. Most of them 86.02 %(80) preferred to use homeopathy. The mean duration of use alternative medicine was 2.9±4.7 months, mean patient delay was 4 months. Use of alternative medicine was found significantly (p<0.05) associated with patient delay (p=0.019), provider delay (p<0.0001), total delay (p<0.0001), use of homeopathy (p<0.0001) and residence (p=0.014). Logistic regression analysis showed that alternative medicine was 4 times more likely to cause delay help seeking (OR=4.353; 95% CI 2.2.7-8.587) p<0.0001. The co-efficient r was 0.488, p<0.0001 and there was a positive correlation among delay and duration of use of alternative medicine. CONCLUSION: Seeking medical help other than orthodox available treatment leads to delayed presentation by the breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE: Various treatment options including alternative medicine is available in underdeveloped countries which attracts easily the community with low profile. This study aimed to find perception of the use and mode use of alternative medicine (AM) by Bangladeshi Breast cancer patients which may influence timely treatment seeking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed to determine the spectrum in use of alternative medicine and compare the use of alternative medicine with their delay in presentation. Patients were selected randomly from July 2015-June 2016 in a specialized public cancer hospital of Dhaka city. Face to face interview was taken from diagnosed breast cancer patients, collected in pre-structured data sheet, SPSS was used for statical tests. RESULTS: Out of 200 respondents, about half of the respondents 46.5% (93) first sought help to alternative medicine. Most of them 86.02 %(80) preferred to use homeopathy. The mean duration of use alternative medicine was 2.9±4.7 months, mean patient delay was 4 months. Use of alternative medicine was found significantly (p<0.05) associated with patient delay (p=0.019), provider delay (p<0.0001), total delay (p<0.0001), use of homeopathy (p<0.0001) and residence (p=0.014). Logistic regression analysis showed that alternative medicine was 4 times more likely to cause delay help seeking (OR=4.353; 95% CI 2.2.7-8.587) p<0.0001. The co-efficient r was 0.488, p<0.0001 and there was a positive correlation among delay and duration of use of alternative medicine. CONCLUSION: Seeking medical help other than orthodox available treatment leads to delayed presentation by the breast cancer patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alternative medicine; breast cancer; delay health seeking
Authors: Gulshan Karbani; Jennifer N W Lim; Jenny Hewison; Karl Atkin; Kieran Horgan; Mark Lansdown; Carol E Chu Journal: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev Date: 2011
Authors: H Boon; M Stewart; M A Kennard; R Gray; C Sawka; J B Brown; C McWilliam; A Gavin; R A Baron; D Aaron; T Haines-Kamka Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2000-07 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Kurian Joseph; Sebastian Vrouwe; Anmmd Kamruzzaman; Ali Balbaid; David Fenton; Richard Berendt; Edward Yu; Patricia Tai Journal: World J Surg Oncol Date: 2012-06-26 Impact factor: 2.754