Use and Perception of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Cancer Patients: the CAMEO-PRO Study : Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncology

Overview

Journal J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2018 Jul 26

PMID 30043280

Citations 11

Authors

Claudia Bozza

Lorenzo Gerratana

Debora Basile

Maria Grazia Vitale

Michele Bartoletti

Elisa Agostinetto

Stefania Russo

Alessandro Follador

Elisa De Carlo

Nicoletta Pella

Roberta Sottile

Gianpiero Fasola

Fabio Puglisi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: It is estimated that about half of cancer patients use at least one form of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in their life but there is a strong reticence of patients in talking about CAM with their oncologist. Primary aim of this study was to inform patients about CAM, focusing on their supposed benefits, toxicities and interactions with conventional therapeutic agents. The study also explored patients' perception about CAM and ascertained the level of CAM use among cancer patients of an Italian academic hospital.

Methods: From April 2016 to April 2017, the observational pilot trial "CAMEO-PRO" prospectively enrolled 239 cancer patients that were invited to attend a tutorial about CAM at the Department of oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Italy. Before and after the informative session, patients were asked to fill a questionnaire reporting their knowledge and opinion about CAM.

Results: Overall, 163 (70%) women and 70 (30%) men were enrolled. Median age was 61 years. At study entry, 168 (72%) patients declared they had never been interested in this topic previously; 24 patients (11%) revealed the use of a type of alternative therapy and 58 (28%) revealed the use of complementary therapy. In total, 139 (55.2%) patients attended the informative session. Bowker's test of symmetry demonstrated statistically significant opinion's change after the session on 9 out of 14 explored items.

Conclusions: Informative sessions seem to have a relevant impact on patients' perceptions and opinions about CAM.

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