Survey on the use of alternative and complementary medicine in Mexican patients with cancer in an oncology reference center

Abstract

Objective: To describe the frequency of use of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) and its relationship with sociodemographic, economic and clinical variables in oncology patients treated at the National Cancer Institute. Material and methods: A structured and validated survey for a certain sociodemographic population was applied to measure the use of CAM. Results: We included 492 patients with breast, cervix and lung cancer mainly, 76.6% were women. The main diagnosis was breast cancer (37.4%). Exercise, dietary supplements and herbal products were reported in 80%; higher frequency in women aged 51-66 years and with more than four years diagnosis. Schooling and the type of neoplasia were associated with the use of these therapies. Conclusions: The use of CAM is common in oncologist patients. It is necessary to identify them in order to guide their use and consider them in the integral management of cancer.

Creencias-prácticas culturales de pacientes con cuidados paliativos domiciliarios, desde la teoría Leininger

“…Así mismo, los participantes de este estudio hacen cambios basados en el ajuste de la dieta, a través del consumo de suplementos alimentarios, resultado similar a lo encontrado en otro estudio realizado en pacientes mexicanos con cáncer 17 . En relación con lo anterior y según los constructos que propone Magdeleine Leininger, se deben crear las estrategias para orientar el cuidado, basado en prácticas con evidencia científica.…”