A Comparative Study on Cancer Prevention Principles Between Iranian Traditional Medicine and Classic Medicine

The Conflict between the Beliefs of the Health Care Providers and Family Caregivers in the Use of Traditional Medicine in Pediatric Oncology: An Ethnographic Study

Introduction: Traditional medicine are popular treatments among families of children with cancer. This study was designed to identify the behaviors, beliefs, and values of families and health care providers for the use of traditional medicine in pediatric oncology. Methods: This study was conducted with a focus on ethnography approach in the oncology department of a pediatric subspecialty hospital in northeastern of Iran from September 2021 to June 2022. A total of 20 key informants were observed and interviewed formally and informally. The Miles and Huberman (1994) approach was used for data analysis. Results: Finally, two main cultural themes were emerged, including the blame of traditional herbal medicine and the synergy of rituals with modern therapies. Families use traditional medicine based on values passed down from generation to generation, while health care providers make evidence-based decisions. Conclusion: The results of the present study represent the conflict between health care providers and families in the use of medicinal herbs. The findings allow care providers to be aware of the beliefs and values of children caregivers to make the right decision about traditional medicine use.

Facilitating Factors and Barriers of Women's Cancer Screening in Iran: A Systematic Review

Low uptake of women's cancer screening and its facilitating factors and barriers in Iran has been studied so far but no consensus on factors affecting this low uptake has been stated previously. Nevertheless, facilitating factors and barriers of breast cancer and cervical cancer have been reviewed. In this systematic review, Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were the preferred search engines. In addition, the Persian database of Magiran and SIDs and ISC indexed journals were searched with different combinations of Persian keywords compatible with English search. A hand search of key Iranian journals was also accomplished. Through 964 primarily searched articles, finally, after duplicates being removed, the screen of records, and full-text articles assessed for eligibility, only 12 articles were included in the review. Barriers observed mostly were screening not advised by a physician, having no relevant problems or disease, having no knowledge about the procedure, fear from pain or cancer detection, shame from the procedure, and forget to have screening. Facilitators were less focused than barriers and frequently were identified as advised by healthcare professionals, the perceived necessity for screening, and the important identified risk of cancer acquire. Almost all studies focused on individual and interpersonal barriers and facilitators for screening instead of a holistic view on the utilization of screening programs. In future studies on women's cancer screening, facilitating factors and barriers of both supply (health system provision and policy implications) and demand-side (individual and interpersonal factors) of healthcare provision has been strongly recommended.

Cancer trends in a province of Southwest of Iran, 2003-2016

Background:

Awareness of the trends of cancer incidence in each geographic region is an important. The aim of present study was to determine the incidence trends of cancer in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (Ch and B) province in Southwest of Iran.

Materials and Methods:

In this secondary data analysis, retrospective existing data were used from cancer registry reports in Ch and B in Southwest of Iran in 2003–2016. Data on epidemiologic trend were analyzed using Joinpoint software package and annual percentage change (APC) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was computed.

Results:

Age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 persons in the province in 2003 was 31.74 that increased to 147.14 in 2016. APC during 2003–2016 was 12.58% (CI: 9.3–16) and significant, which was 10.22% (7.4–13.1) and 14.47% (10.2–18.9) in men and women, respectively. Incidence of the stomach, breast, colorectal, thyroid, lymph node, and ovarian cancers is increasing and the highest incidence was observed in two age groups of 25–34 and 55–64 years.

Conclusion:

In general, cancers are of increasing trend. Surveillance and monitoring the incidence of cancer and studying the causes of environmental or genetic in the cancer changes can help for cancer prevention and control.