Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-6mz5d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-18T14:26:04.520Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in head and neck cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2010

C M Lim ,
A Ng  and
K S Loh
C M Lim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore
A Ng
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore
K S Loh*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Thomas Loh Kwok Seng, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, National University Hospital, Singapore119074. Fax: +65 7753820 E-mail: entv5@nus.edu.sg
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the prevalence and profile of patients who use complementary and alternative medicine, within a cohort of head and neck cancer patients.

Study design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Subjects and methods:

Ninety-three consecutive head and neck cancer patients being followed up at the department of otolaryngology head and neck surgery were surveyed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Results:

The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use was 67.8 per cent. Patients who used complementary and alternative medicine were more likely to be female, better educated and younger, compared with non-users. A total of 82.5 per cent (52/63) perceived complementary and alternative medicine to be effective, even though they were aware of the lack of research and endorsement by their physician regarding such medicine.

Conclusion:

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by head and neck cancer patients is common, regardless of efficacy or cost. Clinicians should routinely ask patients about their use of complementary and alternative medicine, to facilitate communication and enable appropriate use of such medicine.

Keywords

Complementary and Alternative MedicineHead and NeckCancers

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 5 , May 2010 , pp. 529 - 532
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1Kaptchuk, TJ, Eisenberg, DM. Varieties of hearing, II: a taxonomy of unconventional healing practices. Ann Intern Med 2001;135:196–204Google Scholar
2Weiger, WA, Smith, M, Boon, H, Richardson, MA, Kaptchuk, TJ, Eisenberg, DM. Advising patients who seek complementary and alternative medical therapies for cancer. Ann Intern Med 2002;137:889–903Google Scholar
3Cassileth, BR. “Complementary” or “alternative”? It makes a difference in cancer care. Complement Ther Med 1999;7:35–7Google Scholar
4White, JD. Complementary and alternative medicine research: a National Cancer Institute perspective. Semin Oncol 2002;29:546–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Lerner, IJ, Kennedy, BJ. The prevalence of questionable methods of cancer treatment in the United States. CA Cancer J Clinic 1992;42:181–91Google Scholar
6Shakeel, M, Newton, JR, Bruce, J, Ah-See, KW. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients attending a head and neck oncology clinic. J Laryngol Otol 2008;122:1360–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Cassileth, BR, Lusk, EJ, Strouse, TB, Bodenheimer, BJ. Contemporary unorthodox treatments in cancer medicine. Ann Intern Med 1984;101:105–12CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Risberg, T, Lund, E, Wist, E. Use of non-proven therapies. Acta Oncol 1995;34:893–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Downer, SM, Cody, MM, McCluskey, P, Wilson, PD, Arnott, SJ, Lister, TA et al. Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment. BMJ 1994;309:86–9Google Scholar
10Risberg, T, Lund, E, Wist, E, Dahl, O, Sundstrøm, S, Andersen, OK et al. The use of non-proven therapy among patients treated in Norwegian oncological departments; a cross-sectional national multicentre study. Eur J Cancer 1995;31:1785–9Google Scholar
11Warrick, PD, Irish, JC, Morningstar, M, Gilbert, R, Brown, D, Gullane, P. Use of alternative medicine among patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;125:573–9Google Scholar