ISSN: 2167-0870
Oncology Unit, Sant’Andrea University Hospital, via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy
Research Article
Complementary therapies? use among cancer patients: A cross-sectional study
Author(s): Eva Mazzotti*, Monia Specchia and Federica Mazzuca
Objective: antineoplastic therapies side effects amplify the patient discomfort/suffering. To prevent/minimize drugs damage, an increasing number of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine. The aim of this study was to measure prevalence and benefits experienced from the use of complementary therapies among 405 cancer patients. An anonymous self-completed questionnaire has been used.
Result: 248 (61.23%) patients used complementary and/or nutritional supplements and 99 (24.44%) at least one of them. These remedies were recommended by pharmacists (36.1%), oncologists (27.3%), or general practitioners (15.4%). Two hundred twenty-four (55.31%) patients believed they had benefited from their use. Among 109 patients that would not inform the oncologist: 60.9% “do not believe it is useful/important to talk about it”,.. View More»