Patients’ information on side effects of cancer treatment and usage of complementary and alternative medicine – A cross-sectional study

IF 1.7 Q2 Medicine

Advances in integrative medicine Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100497

Christian Keinki , Mariska-Alenka Klein , Lukas Käsmann , Karsten Münstedt , Jutta Hübner

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Many cancer patients use complementary and alternative methods (CAM) to reduce side effects of cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of information patients receive on side effects on choice to use CAM.

Methods

Patients of a cancer center undergoing outpatient treatment were assessed using a structured questionnaire.

Results

From 150 cancer patients taking part, 102 (68.0 %) reported side effects. 138 patients (92.0 %) reported to have been informed on potential side effects before start of treatment and only 79 patients (52.7 %) received any supportive treatment. Only 95 and 97 patients (63.3 and 64.7 % resp.) reported having received information of prevention of side effects and 130 patients (86.7 %) reported using additional or complementary methods and 75 (50.1 %) used at least one CAM method. Females and patients with higher education were more likely to use CAM. Neither information on side effects nor on methods to prevent or treat side effects was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of using CAM.

Conclusions

Information on dealing with side effects is lacking for many patients and should be addressed in a more structured process. However, this lack of information does not seem to be a driver of usage of complementary methods.

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患者关于癌症治疗和使用补充和替代药物的副作用的信息-一项横断面研究

背景：许多癌症患者使用辅助替代方法（CAM）来减少癌症治疗的副作用。我们研究的目的是评估患者收到的关于副作用的信息对选择使用CAM的影响。方法采用结构化问卷对某癌症中心门诊患者进行评估。结果在150例癌症患者中，102例（68.0 %）报告了副作用。据报道，138名患者（92.0 %）在开始治疗前被告知潜在的副作用，只有79名患者（52.7% %）接受了任何支持性治疗。只有95例和97例（分别为63.3和64.7 %）报告获得了预防副作用的信息，130例（86.7 %）报告使用了额外或补充方法，75例（50.1 %）报告使用了至少一种CAM方法。女性和受过高等教育的患者更有可能使用CAM。关于副作用的信息以及预防或治疗副作用的方法都与减少使用辅助治疗的可能性无关。结论许多患者缺乏处理副作用的信息，应在更结构化的过程中加以解决。然而，这种信息的缺乏似乎并不是使用补充方法的驱动因素。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in integrative medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

11.80%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED) is an international peer-reviewed, evidence-based research and review journal that is multi-disciplinary within the fields of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. The journal focuses on rigorous quantitative and qualitative research including systematic reviews, clinical trials and surveys, whilst also welcoming medical hypotheses and clinically-relevant articles and case studies disclosing practical learning tools for the consulting practitioner. By promoting research and practice excellence in the field, and cross collaboration between relevant practitioner groups and associations, the journal aims to advance the practice of IM, identify areas for future research, and improve patient health outcomes. International networking is encouraged through clinical innovation, the establishment of best practice and by providing opportunities for cooperation between organisations and communities.