Top

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Complementary and alternative medicine use by pediatric oncology patients before, during, and after treatment

Authors: Emmanuelle Lüthi, Manuel Diezi, Nadia Danon, Julie Dubois, Jérôme Pasquier, Bernard Burnand, Pierre-Yves Rodondi

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and the modalities used by pediatric oncology patients vary widely across studies. In addition, the changes in the use of CAM over the course of treatment are understudied. Thus, this study aimed to explore (1) CAM use by pediatric oncology patients in relation to specific time intervals and (2) communication about CAM use between parents and oncologists.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of children diagnosed with cancer at a Swiss pediatric hematology-oncology center by means of an online questionnaire. Questions were related to their child’s CAM use over different time intervals, sources of information about CAM use, and communication with the oncologists.

Results

Among 140 respondents, CAM was used by 54.3% of patients before diagnosis and 69.3% of patients after diagnosis. During each defined time interval, between 50 and 58.8% of the patients used at least one CAM. Homeopathy was the most popular CAM modality used during oncology treatment, during the first year after treatment, and between 1 and 5 years after the end of treatment. Osteopathy was the most popular CAM ≥5 years after the end of oncology treatment. Forty percent of respondents did not discuss CAM with their oncologist.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of CAM use and the different trends of use during the oncology care pathway and afterward underline the need to increase communication about CAM in the pediatric oncology setting, notably regarding benefits and risks of interaction with oncology treatment.

Available only for authorised users

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. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-1775.CrossRefPubMed

Magi T, Kuehni CE, Torchetti L, Wengenroth L, Lüer 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. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145787.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zuzak TJ, Boňková J, Careddu D, Garami M, Hadjipanayis A, Jazbec J, Merrick J, Miller J, Ozturk C, Persson IAL, Petrova G, Saz Peiró P, Schraub S, Simões-Wüst AP, Steinsbekk A, Stockert K, Stoimenova A, Styczynski J, Tzenova-Savova A, Ventegodt S, Vlieger AM, Längler A. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by children in Europe: published data and expert perspectives. Complement Ther Med. 2013;21:S34–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.01.001.CrossRefPubMed

Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine https://www.who.int/traditional-complementary-integrative-medicine/about/en/. Accessed 5 Mar 2018.

Martel D, Bussières JF, Théorêt Y, Lebel D, Kish S, Moghrabi A, Laurier C. Use of alternative and complementary therapies in children with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2005;44(7):660–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.20205.CrossRefPubMed

Diorio C, Lam CG, Ladas EJ, Njuguna F, Afungchwi GM, 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. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2016.005587.CrossRefPubMed

Längler A, et al. 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2008.07.020.CrossRef

Singendonk M, Kaspers GJ, Naafs-Wilstra M, Meeteren ASV, 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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1821-6.CrossRefPubMed

Valji R, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine: a survey of its use in pediatric oncology. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2013;2013:527163.CrossRef

10.

Karali Y, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer: effect on survival. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2012;29(4):335–44. https://doi.org/10.3109/08880018.2012.670368.CrossRefPubMed

11.

O'Connor N, et al. The use of complementary and alternative medicine by irish pediatric cancer patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2013;35(7):537–42. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e31829f408a.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Clerici CA, Veneroni L, Giacon B, Mariani L, Fossati-Bellani F. Complementary and alternative medical therapies used by children with cancer treated at an Italian pediatric oncology unit. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009;53(4):599–604. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.22093.CrossRefPubMed

13.

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. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e318290c5d6.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Sencer SF, Kelly KM. Complementary and alternative therapies in pediatric oncology. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2007;54(6):1043–60; xiii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2007.10.007.CrossRef

15.

Seely D, Stempak D, Baruchel S. A strategy for controlling potential interactions between natural health products and chemotherapy: a review in pediatric oncology. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2007;29(1):32–47. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e3180310521.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Haidar C, Jeha S. Drug interactions in childhood cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12(1):92–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(10)70105-4.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Jacobs SS. Integrative Therapy Use for Management of Side Effects and Toxicities Experienced by Pediatric Oncology Patients. Children (Basel). 2014;1(3):424–40.

18.

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(3):177–82. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e3181984f5a.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Rocha V, Ladas EJ, Lin M, Cacciavillano W, Ginn E, Kelly KM, Chantada G, Castillo L. Beliefs and determinants of use of traditional complementary/alternative medicine in pediatric patients who undergo treatment for Cancer in South America. J Global Oncol. 2017;3(6):701–10. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2016.006809.CrossRef

20.

Pittet V, et al. P581 Patient-reported complementary and alternative medicine use in IBD: 10 years of observation among patients included in a national cohort. J Crohns Colitis. 2018;12(supplement_1):S401–S2.CrossRef

21.

Ducrest I, et al. Complementary medicine use among general internal medicine inpatients in a Swiss university hospital. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(7):e12952.

22.

Klein SD, Torchetti L, Frei-Erb M, Wolf U. Usage of complementary medicine in Switzerland: results of the Swiss health survey 2012 and development since 2007. PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0141985. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141985.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

23.

Gottschling S, Meyer S, Längler A, Scharifi G, Ebinger F, Gronwald B. Differences in use of complementary and alternative medicine between children and adolescents with cancer in Germany: a population based survey. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014;61(3):488–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.24769.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Kuehni CE, Rueegg CS, Michel G, Rebholz CE, Strippoli MP, Niggli FK, Egger M, von der Weid N, Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG). Cohort profile: the Swiss childhood Cancer survivor study. Int J Epidemiol. 2011;41(6):1553–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyr142.CrossRefPubMed

25.

Ross WL, le A, Zheng DJ, Mitchell HR, Rotatori J, Li F, Fahey JT, Ness KK, Kadan-Lottick NS. Physical activity barriers, preferences, and beliefs in childhood cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26(7):2177–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-4041-9.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Beatty PC, GBJ W. Research synthesis: the practice of cognitive interviewing. Public Opin Q. 2007;71(2):287–311. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfm006.CrossRef

27.

Inglin S, et al. Evaluation du recours aux médecines complémentaires chez les patients en suivi oncologique. Rev Méd Suisse. 2008;4(158):1264–9.

28.

Zuzak TJ, Zuzak-Siegrist I, Simões-Wüst AP, Rist L, Staubli G. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients presenting to a Paediatric emergency department. Eur J Pediatr. 2009;168(4):431–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0765-3.CrossRefPubMed

29.

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. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41532-3.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

30.

Carnes D, Mars TS, Mullinger B, Froud R, Underwood M. Adverse events and manual therapy: a systematic review. Man Ther. 2010;15(4):355–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2009.12.006.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Friedman T, Slayton WB, Allen LS, Pollock BH, Dumont-Driscoll M, Mehta P, Graham-Pole J. Use of alternative therapies for children with cancer. Pediatrics. 1997;100(6):E1. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.100.6.e1.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Stub T, Kristoffersen AE, Overvåg G, Jong MC. An integrative review on the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02882-y.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

33.

Kemper KJ, O'Connor KG. Pediatricians' recommendations for complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. Ambul Pediatr. 2004;4(6):482–7. https://doi.org/10.1367/A04-050R.1.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Foley H, Steel A, Cramer H, Wardle J, Adams J. Disclosure of complementary medicine use to medical providers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1573. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38279-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

35.

Vestin M, Carlsson JM, Bjerså K. Emergency department staffs’ knowledge, attitude and patient communication about complementary and alternative medicine–a Swedish survey. Eur J Integr Med. 2018;19:84–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2018.03.003.CrossRef

36.

Langler A, et al. Attitudes and beliefs of paediatric oncologists regarding complementary and alternative therapies. Complement Ther Med. 2013;21(Suppl 1):S10–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.02.006.CrossRefPubMed

37.

Ben-Arye E, Samuels N, Goldstein LH, Mutafoglu K, Omran S, Schiff E, Charalambous H, Dweikat T, Ghrayeb I, Bar-Sela G, Turker I, Hassan A, Hassan E, Saad B, Nimri O, Kebudi R, Silbermann M. Potential risks associated with traditional herbal medicine use in cancer care: a study of middle eastern oncology health care professionals. Cancer. 2016;122(4):598–610. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29796.CrossRefPubMed

38.

Seely DM, et al. A systematic review of integrative oncology programs. Curr Oncol. 2012;19(6):e436–61.CrossRef

39.

Smith CA, Hunter J, Delaney GP, Ussher JM, Templeman K, Grant S, Oyston E. Integrative oncology and complementary medicine cancer services in Australia: findings from a national cross-sectional survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):289. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2357-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

40.

Stubblefield S. Survey of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric inpatient settings. Complement Ther Med. 2017;35:20–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.08.009.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Ramesh G, Gerstbacher D, Arruda J, Golianu B, Mark J, Yeh A. Pediatric Integrative Medicine in Academia: Stanford Children's Experience. Children (Basel, Switzerland). 2018;5(12):168. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children5120168.

42.

Stritter W, Rutert B, Längler A, Eggert A, Holmberg C, Seifert G. Integrative care for children with cancer. Project design for the development of an integrative care programme for use in paediatric oncology. Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:247–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.10.005.CrossRefPubMed

43.

Bradt J, et al. Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients. 2016CrossRef

44.

Diorio C, Salena K, Ladas EJ, Lam CG, Afungcwhi GM, Njuguna F, Marjerrison S. Traditional and complementary medicine used with curative intent in childhood cancer: a systematic review. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017;64(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.26501.

45.

Pai AL, et al. The psychosocial assessment tool (PAT2.0): psychometric properties of a screener for psychosocial distress in families of children newly diagnosed with cancer. J Pediatr Psychol. 2008;33(1):50–62. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsm053.CrossRefPubMed

46.

Federal Act on Research involving Human Beings, Art. 23 Research projects involving adolescents. https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2013/617/en#art_23. Accessed 20 Jan 2021.

Title: Complementary and alternative medicine use by pediatric oncology patients before, during, and after treatment
Authors: Emmanuelle Lüthi
Manuel Diezi
Nadia Danon
Julie Dubois
Jérôme Pasquier
Bernard Burnand
Pierre-Yves Rodondi
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03271-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine use by pediatric oncology patients before, during, and after treatment

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

Correction to: Chemical composition of essential oils of eight Tunisian Eucalyptus species and their antibacterial activity against strains responsible for otitis

Novel mesoporous silica nanocarriers containing gold; a rapid diagnostic tool for tuberculosis

Complementary medicine in Germany: a multi-centre cross-sectional survey on the usage by and the needs of patients hospitalized in university medical centers

Fermentation of Panax notoginseng root extract polysaccharides attenuates oxidative stress and promotes type I procollagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblast cells

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Carica Papaya Linn. seeds extract on CCl4-induced liver injury in male rats

An in vitro study of an Artocarpus heterophyllus substance as a hepatitis C antiviral and its combination with current anti-HCV drugs