Patient approach and experience regarding complementary medicine: survey among hospitalized patients in a university hospital

Utilization and costs of conventional and alternative pharmaceuticals in children: results from the German GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohort studies

PURPOSE

The socioeconomic determinants for drug utilization, especially in children, have not been investigated sufficiently so far. The study's aim was the estimation of prevalences and determinants of conventional, homeopathic and phytotherapeutic drugs and expenditures.

METHODS

Population-based data on drug utilization of 3,642 children in two German birth cohorts (GINIplus and LISAplus, 10-year follow-up) were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. For analysis, the reported drugs (use within the last four weeks) were classified into the therapeutic categories of 'conventional medicine', 'homeopathy', 'phytotherapy' and 'others'. Drug costs were estimated using pharmaceutical identification numbers.

RESULTS

In all, 42.3% of the children reported drug use; 24.1% of the drugs were homeopathic and 11.5% were phytotherapeutic. The proportion of children who took at least one homeopathic remedy was 14.3%. Drugs prescribed by physicians were dominated by conventional medicine (76.5%), whereas in non-prescribed drugs, both homeopathy and conventional medicine accounted for 37% each. Boys (OR = 0.78) used less homeopathy than girls. Income showed only a weak influence. Education had a strong effect on the use of phytotherapy such that children of mothers with higher school education (>10 years vs. <10 years) used more phytotherapy (OR = 2.01). If out-of-pocket payments arose (n = 613), the mean was €20. On average, total drug expenditures summed up to €39 in 4 weeks for drug users if only clearly identifiable prices for drugs were considered (58% of all data).

CONCLUSIONS

Utilization of homeopathy is common in children from the analyzed cohort. User profiles of homeopathy and phytotherapy differ from each other and should be analyzed separately.

Ethnic differences in population approach and experience regarding complementary-alternative medicine (CAM)

PURPOSE

The aim of this survey was to characterize one urban Arab population who turns to complementary-alternative medicine (CAM).

METHODS

Outpatient participants were selected randomly by their ethnical affiliation. The questionnaire was filled during patient visit to their assigned urban outpatient clinic. The answers to the first two questions determined whether the questionnaire was to be completed or not (if at least one answer was Yes, the questionnaire was completed).

RESULTS

More males (19%) seek for CAM in the Arab group in comparison to more females in the Jewish population (27%). Fifteen per cent and 7% of the individuals in the Jewish and Arab groups who used CAM have academic education. Fifty-two per cent and 27% of the Jewish and Arab populations declared themselves seculars, 72% of the Arab individuals declared to be traditionalists-religious-orthodox in their believes in comparison to 47% in the Jewish population. Twenty-eight per cent and 0% in the Jewish and Arab populations, respectively, preferred a conventional doctor (MD) in CAM practice. More than 30% in both populations preferred CAM to be delivered in medical and nursing schools.

CONCLUSIONS

Forty per cent and 31% in the Jewish and Arab groups experienced complementary medicine intervention at least once. When comparing people who used complementary medicine to those who did not, it is observed that the percentage of individuals holding academic degrees in the Jewish group is higher than in the Arab interviewed in the group utilizing complementary medicine. Traditionalist-religious-orthodox individuals seek more complementary medicine in the Arab population (72%) in comparison to 47% in the Jewish individuals. Only 17% of the Arab individuals and 19% in the Jewish group knew about the adverse reactions caused by CAM therapies. More than 30% in both ethnic groups were in favor of 'legalizing' complementary medicine.

Limited Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Israeli Head and Neck Cancer Patients

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE

The use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) is growing among cancer patients. A Medline search failed to reveal any dedicated report of CAM use specifically in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

STUDY DESIGN

Use of CAM was evaluated in a cohort of treated HNC patients.

METHODS

Patients treated for HNC were asked if they had used CAM since their diagnosis. Demographic data and data pertaining to mode of CAM, duration of treatment and effects were obtained.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-three patients (mean age 61 years) were included. Only nine patients (6.3%) reported using disease related CAM. This included acupuncture (4), Reiki (2), naturopathy (2), hypnosis (1), shiatsu (1), chiropractic treatment (1), homeopathy (1), and selenium (1).

CONCLUSION

Contrary to the reported use, few of our HNC patients used CAM. Although this could be related to good caregiver-patient relationship, further studies in comparable populations are warranted to evaluate if this is a local or a pervading finding in head and neck cancer patients.