Online Exclusive Article

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Used by Pediatric Patients With Cancer in Western Turkey

Rabia E. Genc

Selmin Senol

Ayse S. Turgay

Mehmet Kantar

complementary and alternative therapies
ONF 2009, 36(3), E159-E164. DOI: 10.1188/09.ONF.E159-E164

Purpose/Objectives: To determine the extent of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, the types of therapies employed, and the reasons for choosing those therapies.

Design: Descriptive type, cross-sectional.

Setting: Pediatric oncology department in western Turkey.

Sample: 112 children receiving or completing treatment for cancer.

Methods: Parents of 112 children completed a questionnaire regarding CAM use. Analyses included examining correlations between CAM use and demographic variables.

Main Research Variables: CAM use and demographic variables.

Findings: 77% of the patients used one or more type of CAM, with herb use being the most common.

Conclusions: About 75% of parents used CAM for their children. However, about 25% sought discussion with the physician about the CAM they were using.

Implications for Nursing: Nurses should approach their patients without prejudice, gather information about the various CAM techniques, and share this knowledge with their patients.

Jump to a section

    References

    Algier, L.A., Hanoglu, Z., Ozden, G., & Kara, F. (2005). The use of complementary and alternative (nonconventional) medicine in cancer patients in Turkey. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 9(2), 138-146.
    Arush, M.W., Geva, H., Ofir, R., Mashiach, T., Uziel, R., & Dashkovsky, Z. (2006). Prevalence and characteristics of complementary medicine used by paediatric cancer patients in a mixed Western and Middle-Eastern population. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 28(3), 141-146.
    Bold, J., & Leis, A. (2001). Unconventional therapy use among children with cancer in Saskatchewan. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 18(1), 16-25.
    Ceylan, S., Hamzaoglu, O., Komurcu, S., Beyan, C., & Yalcin, A. (2002). Survey of the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Turkish cancer patients. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 10(2), 94-99.
    Cohen, M.H. (2006). Legal and ethical issues relating to use of complementary therapies in pediatric hematology/oncology. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 28(3), 190-193.
    Ernst, E. (2003). Serious adverse effects of unconventional therapies for children and adolescents: A systematic review of recent evidence. European Journal of Pediatrics, 162(2), 72-80.
    Ernst, E., & Cassileth, B.R. (1998). The prevalence of complementary/alternative medicine in cancer. Cancer, 83(4), 777-781.
    Fernandez, C.V., Stutzer, C.A., MacWilliam, L., & Fryer, C. (1998). Alternative and complementary therapy use in pediatric oncology patients in British Columbia: Prevalence and reasons for use and nonuse. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 16(4), 1279-1286.
    Fletcher, C.P., & Clarke, J. (2004). Complementary and alternative medicine among pediatric patients. Cancer Nursing, 27(2), 93-99.
    Friedman, T., Slayton, W.B., Allen, S.L., Pollock, H.B., Dumont-Driscoll, M., Mehta, P., et al. (1997). Use of alternative therapies for children with cancer. Pediatrics, 100(6), E1-E6.
    Gagnon, E., & Recklist, C.B. (2003). Parent's decision-making preferences in pediatric oncology: The relationship to health care involvement and complementary therapy use. Psycho-Oncology, 12(5), 442-452.
    Gozum, S., Arikan, D., & Büyükavci, M. (2007). Complementary and alternative medicine use in pediatric oncology in eastern Turkey. Cancer Nursing, 30(1), 38-44.
    Gozum, S., Tezel, A., & Koç, M. (2003). Complementary and alternative medicine used by patients with cancer in eastern Turkey. Cancer Nursing, 26, 230-236.
    Grootenhuis, M.A., Last, B.F., de Graaf-Nijkerk, J.H., & van der Wel, M. (1998). Use of alternative treatment in pediatric oncology. Cancer Nursing, 21(4), 282-288.
    Inanc, N., Sahin, H., Cicek, B., & Tasc, S. (2006). Use of herbs or vitamin/mineral supplements by patients with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 29(1), 17-20.
    Isikhan, V., Borazan, E., Komurcu, S., Ozer, A., Arpaci, F., Ozturk, B., et al. (2003, April). Used alternative therapies with cancer patients. Session presented at the 15th National Cancer Conference, Antalya, Turkey.
    Jankovic, M., Spinetta, J.J., Martins, A.G., Pession, A., Sullivan, M., D'Angino, J.G., et al. (2004). Nonconventional therapies in childhood cancer: Guidelines for distinguishing nonharmful from harmful therapies. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 42(1), 106-108.
    Karadeniz, C., Pinarli, G.F., Oluz, A., Gürsel, T., & Canter, B. (2007). Complementary/alternative medicine use in a pediatric oncology unit in Turkey. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 48(5), 540-543.
    Kelly, K.M., Jacobsen, J.S., Kennedy, D.D., Braudt, S.M., Mallick, M., & Weiner, M.A. (2000). Use of unconventional therapies by children with cancer at an urban medical center. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 22(5), 412-416.
    Langler, A., Spix, C., Gottschling, S., Graf, N., & Kaatsch, P. (2005). Parents interview on use of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric oncology in Germany. Klinische Padiatrie, 217(6), 357-364.
    Martel, D., Bussieres, J.F., Theoret, Y., Lebel, D., Kish, S., Moghrabi, A., et al. (2005). Use of alternative and complementary therapies in children with cancer. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 44(7), 660-668.
    McCurdy, E.A., Spangler, J.G., Wofford, M.M., Chauvenet, A.R., & McLean T.W. (2003). Religiosity is associated with the use of complementary medical therapies by pediatric oncology patients. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 25(2), 125-129.
    McLean, T.M., & Kemper, J.K. (2006a). Complementary and alternative medicine therapies in pediatric oncology patients. Journal of the Society of Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 1-6.
    McLean, T.M., & Kemper, J.K. (2006b). Complementary biochemical therapies in pediatric oncology. Journal of the Society of Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 39-45.
    McLean, T.M., & Kemper, J.K. (2006c). Lifestyle, biomechanical, and bioenergetic complementary therapies in pediatric oncology. Journal of the Society of Integrative Oncology, 4(2), 187-193.
    Molassiotis, A., & Cubbin, D. (2004). Thinking "outside the box": Complementary and alternative therapies use in paediatric oncology patients. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(1), 50-60.
    National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2007). What is CAM? [NNCAM CAM basics] NNCAM Publication No. D347. Retrieved January 7, 2008, from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/?
    Neuhouser, M.L., Patterson, R.E., Schwartz, S.M., Hedderson, M.M., Bowen, D.J., & Standish, L.J. (2001). Use of alternative medicine by children with cancer in Washington state. Preventive Medicine, 33(5), 347-354.
    Oguz, S., & Pinar, R. (2000, October). Which complementary therapies are preferred the most? Session presented at the 1st International and 8th National Nursing Conference, Antalya, Turkey.
    Post-White, J. (2006). Complementary and alternative medicine in pediatric oncology. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 23(5), 244-253.
    Samur, M., Bozcuk, H.S., Kara, A., & Savas, B. (2001). Factors associated with utilization of nonproven cancer therapies in Turkey: A study of 135 patients from a single center. Supportive Care in Cancer, 9(6), 452-458.
    Sibinga, E.M., Ottoloni, M.C., Duggan, A.K., & Wilson, M.H. (2004). Parent-pediatrician communication about complementary and alternative medicine use for children. Clinical Pediatrics, 43(4), 367-373.
    Smith, C., & Eckert, K. (2006). Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine and use among children in South Australia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 42(9), 538-543.
    Yeh, C.H., Tsai, J.L., Li, W.J., Lee, S.C., & Yang, C.P. (2000). Use of alternative therapy among pediatric oncology patients in Taiwan. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 17(1), 55-65.