Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Research article

An integrative review on the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine

Authors: Trine Stub, Agnete E. Kristoffersen, Grete Overvåg, Miek C. Jong

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Parents often choose Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a supportive agent with the aim to reduce cancer treatment-related symptoms in their children. Therefore, it is necessary to understand parents´ information and communication needs regarding CAM. The aim of the present study was to review the research literature as to identify the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer, and the children themselves, regarding the use of CAM.

Methods

An integrative systematic review design was chosen. Searches were performed in AMED, CAMbase, CINAHL (Ebsco), EMBASE, PubMed and PsycInfo, Theme eJournals and Karger. The search was limited to studies published in English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages. Using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened the title and abstracts of the relevant papers. A data extraction form and critical appraisal checklists were used to extract data for analysis, and a mixed methods synthesis was applied.

Results

Out of 24 studies included, 67% were of quantitative and 33% of qualitative study design. Five main themes emerged from the analysis of 21 studies: Information on CAM, sources of CAM information, communication about CAM, informed decision-making on CAM, and Risk/benefit of CAM. The majority of the parents did not disclose the CAM use of their children because they feared negative reactions from the attending oncologist. To make informed treatment decisions for their children, parents wanted unbiased information about CAM and would act accordingly. They demand open communication about these modalities and respect for the family’s autonomy when choosing CAM for their children.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for parents of children with cancer for high quality information on CAM from reliable and scientific sources. Development of authoritative evidence-based decision tools is thus warranted to enable health care professionals and parents of children with cancer to make well informed, individual decisions concerning CAM.
Literature
1.
Cheng L, Liu F, Feng S, Wang Y, Gu Y, Kang Q. Symptom experience of children with Cancer younger than eight years of age: an integrative review. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2019;58(1):157–66.CrossRef
2.
Hedén L, Pöder U, von Essen L, Ljungman G. Parents' perceptions of their Child's symptom burden during and after Cancer treatment. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2013;46(3):366–75.CrossRef
3.
Pöder U, Ljungman G, von Essen L. Parents' perceptions of their Children's Cancer-related symptoms during treatment: a prospective, longitudinal study. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2010;40(5):661–70.CrossRef
4.
5.
6.
Bishop FL, Prescott P, Chan YK, Saville J, von Elm E, Lewith GT. Prevalence of Complementary medicine use in pediatric Cancer: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2010;125(4):768–76.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Diorio C, Lam CG, Ladas EJ, Njuguna F, Afungchwi GM, Katherine Taromina K, Marjerrison S. Global use of traditional and Complementary medicine in childhood Cancer: a systematic review. J Glob Oncol. 2017;3(6):791–800.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Chotsampancharoen T, Sripornsawan P, Duangchu S, Wongchanchailert M, McNeil E. Survival Outcome of Alternative Medicine Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia in Children. Acta Haematol Acta haematologica. 2018;140:203–8.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Buckner CA, Lafrenie RM, Dénommée AJ, Caswell JM, Want DA. Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients before and after a cancer diagnosis. Curr Oncol. 2018;25(4):e275–81.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Turhan AB, Bör Ö. Use of herbs or vitamin/mineral/nutrient supplements by pediatric oncology patients. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016;23:69–74.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Werneke U, Earl J, Seydel C, Horn O, Crichton P, Fannon D. Potential health risks of complementary alternative medicines in cancer patients. Br J Cancer. 2004;90(2):408–13.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Jermini M, Dubois J, Rodondi PY, Zaman K, Buclin T, Csajka C, Orcurto A, E Rothuizen L. Complementary medicine use during cancer treatment and potential herb-drug interactions from a cross-sectional study in an academic Centre. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):5078.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Roth M, Lin J, Kim M, Moody K. Pediatric Oncologists' views toward the use of Complementary and alternative medicine in children with Cancer. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009;31:177–82.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Vlieger AM, van Vliet M, Jong MC. Attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine: a national survey among paediatricians in the Netherlands. Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(5):619–24.CrossRefPubMed
15.
16.
17.
18.
Magi T, Kuehni CE, Torchetti L, Wengenroth L, Luer S, Frei-Erb M. Use of Complementary and alternative medicine in children with Cancer: a study at a Swiss University hospital. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0145787.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Info Lib J. 2009;26(2):91–108.CrossRef
20.
Broome ME. Integrative literature reviews in the development of concepts. In: Rodgers BL, Knafl KA, editors. Concept development in nursing: foundations. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1993.
21.
Whittemore R, Knafl K. The integrative review: updated methodology. J Adv Nurs. 2005;52(5):546–53.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Peters MDJ, Godfrey CM, Khalil HB, Mclnerney P, Parker D, Soares CB. Guidance for conducting systematic scoping reviews. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2015;13(3):141–6.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Shamseer L, Moher D, Clarke M, Ghersi D, Liberati A, Petticrew M, Shekelle P, Stewart LA. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. BMJ. 2015;349:g7647.CrossRef
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Al-Qudimat MR, Rozmus CL, Farhan N. Family strategies for managing childhood cancer: using complementary and alternative medicine in Jordan. J Adv Nurs. 2011;67(3):591–7.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Ball SD, Kertesz D, Moyer-Mileur LJ. Dietary supplement use is prevalent among children with a chronic illness. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(1):78–84.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Ben Arush MW, Geva H, Ofir R, Mashiach T, Uziel R, Dashkovsky Z. Prevalence and characteristics of complementary medicine used by pediatric cancer patients in a mixed western and middle-eastern population. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2006;28(3):141–6.CrossRef
31.
Fernandez CV, Stutzer CA, MacWilliam L, Fryer C, Fernandez CV, Stutzer CA, MacWilliam L, Fryer C. Alternative and complementary therapy use in pediatric oncology patients in British Columbia: prevalence and reasons for use and nonuse. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16(4):1279–86.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Gagnon EM, Recklitis CJ. Parents' decision-making preferences in pediatric oncology: the relationship to health care involvement and complementary therapy use. Psychooncology. 2003;12(5):442–52.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Gozum S, Arikan D. M B: Complementary and alternative medicine use in pediatric oncology patients in eastern Turkey. Cancer Nurs. 2007;30(1):38–44.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Ladas EJ, Rivas S, Ndao D, Damoulakis D, Bao YY, Cheng B, Kelly KM, Antillon F. Use of traditional and complementary/alternative medicine (TCAM) in children with cancer in Guatemala. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014;61(4):687–92.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Laengler A, Spix C, Seifert G, Gottschling S, Graf N, Kaatsch P. Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: a population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany. Eur J Cancer. 2008;44(15):2233–40.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Molassiotis A, Cubbin D. 'Thinking outside the box': complementary and alternative therapies use in paediatric oncology patients. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2004;8(1):50–60.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Ndao DH, Ladas EJ, Bao Y, Cheng B, Nees SN, Levine JM, Kelly KM. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among children, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a survey study. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2013;35(4):281–8.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Olbara G, Parigger J, Njuguna F, Skiles J, Sitaresmi MN, Gordijn S, de Ven P, Kaspers G, Mostert S, van de Ven P, et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018;65(12):e27309 N.PAG-N.PAG.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Rajanandh MG, Scott JX, Reddy JS, Raju JM, Kaniarivi M, Raj KR. Pattern of complementary and alternative medicine use in pediatric oncology patients in a south Indian hospital. J Cancer Res Pract. 2018;5(1):20–3.CrossRef
40.
Singendonk M, Kaspers GJ, Naafs-Wilstra M, Meeteren AS, Loeffen J, Vlieger A. High prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in the Dutch pediatric oncology population: a multicenter survey. Eur J Pediatr. 2013;172(1):31–7.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Susilawati D, Sitaresmi M, Handayani K, Ven P, Sutaryo KG, Mostert S. HealthCare Providers' and Parents' perspectives on Complementary alternative medicine in children with Cancer in Indonesia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2016;17(7):3235–42.PubMed
42.
Agapito J. Tyrell Dueck: ethical implications for radiation therapists. Can J Med Rad Technol. 2000;31(2):45–8.
43.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on children with disabilities: counseling families who choose Complementary and alternative medicine for their child with chronic illness or disability. Pediatrics. 2001;107:598–601.
44.
Clayton MF. Living with illness. Communication: an important part of nursing care. Am J Nurs. 2006;106(11):70–2.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Gilmour J, Harrison C, Asadi L, Cohen MH, Vohra S. Informed consent: advising patients and parents about complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Pediatrics. 2011;128(Suppl 4):S187–92.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Tautz C, Langler A. Complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer - the parents and the doctor's perspective. [German]. Padiatrische Praxis. 2005;67(3):451–62.
47.
Bold J, Leis A. Unconventional therapy use among children with Cancer in Saskatchewan. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2001;18(1):16–25.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Fletcher PC, Clarke J. The use of complementary and alternative medicine among pediatric patients. Cancer Nurs. 2004;27(2):93–9.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Krogstad T, Nguyen M, Widing E, Toverud EL. Children with cancer and their use of natural products. [Norwegian]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007;127(19):2524–6.PubMed
50.
Pearson A, White H, Bath-Hextall F, Apostolo J. The Joanna Briggs institute reviewers’ manual 2014: methodology for JBI mixed methods systematic reviews. Adelaid: The Joanna Briggs Institute; 2014.
51.
Stub T, Quandt SA, Arcury TA, Sandberg JC, Kristoffersen AE, Musial F, Salamonsen A. Perception of risk and communication among conventional and complementary health care providers involving cancer patients’ use of complementary therapies: a literature review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16(1):1–14.CrossRef
52.
Frenkel M, Cohen L. Effective communication about the use of complementary and integrative medicine in cancer care. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(1):12–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
53.
Stub T, Quandt SA, Arcury TA, Sandberg JC, Kristoffersen AE. Complementary and conventional providers in cancer care: experience of communication with patients and steps to improve communication with other providers. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):301.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
54.
55.
Stub T, Musial F, Kristoffersen AA, Alræk T, Liu J. Adverse effects of homeopathy, what do we know? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2016;26:146–63.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Zhou X, Li CG, Chang D, Bensoussan A. Current status and major challenges to the safety and efficacy presented by Chinese herbal medicine. Medicines (Basel). 2019;6(1):14.CrossRef
57.
Deng GE, Frenkel M, Cohen L, Cassileth BR, Abrams DL, Capodice JL. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: Complementary therapies and botanicals. Soc Integr Oncol. 2009;7:85–120.
58.
Iconomou G, Vagenakis AG, Kalofonos HP. The informational needs, satisfaction with communication, and psychological status of primary caregivers of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer. 2001;9(8):591–6.CrossRefPubMed
59.
Pieper D, Jülich F, Antoine SL, Bächle C, Chernyak N, Genz J, Eikermann M, Icks A. Studies analysing the need for health-related information in Germany - a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2015;15:407.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
60.
Eustachi A, Pajtler H, Linde K, Melchart D, Weidenhammer W. Patients of an interdisciplinary Cancer treatment center: use of, knowledge about, and demand for CAM treatment options. Integr Cancer Ther. 2009;8(1):56–62.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
An integrative review on the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine
Authors
Trine Stub
Agnete E. Kristoffersen
Grete Overvåg
Miek C. Jong
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02882-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2020 Go to the issue

Research article

Current status and future perspective of external herbal dispensaries preparing traditional herbal medicine in South Korea: the first National-Wide Survey results

Research article

Selective cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activity in DU-145 prostate cancer cells induced by Annona muricata L. bark extract and phytochemical, annonacin

Research article

Altering the inhibitory kinetics and molecular conformation of maltase by Tangzhiqing (TZQ), a natural α-glucosidase inhibitor

Study protocol

Electroacupuncture versus solifenacin for women with urgency-predominant mixed urinary incontinence: a protocol for a three-armed non-inferiority randomized controlled trial

Research article

Altitude impact on the chemical profile and biological activities of Satureja thymbra L. essential oil

Research article

Structural modulation of gut microbiota during alleviation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with Gynostemma pentaphyllum in rats