Use of the Herbal OTC Products and Dietary Supplements by Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Survey-Based Study

Abstract

Context: Among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, there is a growing trend to use self-medication. Many of them take preparations sold over the counter (OTC) and dietary supplements containing plant raw materials. Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the herbal OTC drug and dietary supplement usage among patients treated on the chemotherapy ward. Settings and Design: An anonymous survey was conducted among 92 patients of the chemotherapy ward of the Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Wroclaw (Poland) with the approval of the Bioethical Commission of the Medical University in Wroclaw (no KB-562/2014) and The Declaration of Helsinki. Methods and Material: An anonymous survey was conducted among 92 patients of the chemotherapy ward of the Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Wroclaw (Poland) in 2015. The questions concerned the use of herbal preparations by patients during chemotherapy. Statistical analysis used: The statistical analysis was developed using programs: Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and STATISTICA 10 (StarSoft Inc.). Analysis was performed by χ2 test. Results: The study has confirmed that the use of herbal OTC products and dietary supplements among cancer patients is a common occurrence. The main source of information about herbal preparations is the Internet and the most common place of purchase is a pharmacy. Conclusions: It is necessary to educate cancer patients to increase their awareness of the importance of a doctor's knowledge about all preparations that they take. Pharmacists play a very important role in self-medication of the patients. Thus, pharmacy students' education is needed in this field as well.

Integrative Cancer Care Unit: An institutional experiment towards Integrative Oncology

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The impact of xenoestrogens on effectiveness of treatment for hormone-dependent breast cancer – current state of knowledge and perspectives for research

“…from red clover, black bedbug, hops or soybeans. Due to their vegetable, natural origin and availability without a prescription, these preparations are widely considered safe, which may result in their use by a patient without the knowledge and control of a doctor [39,40,41]. Phytoestrogens, in particular flavonoid genistein, are the best studied group of xenoestrogens in terms of interaction with drugs used in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.…”

Comparison between the American and the European Systems of Monitoring Adverse Effects of Dietary Supplements and Their Usefulness on the Polish Market

“…Interestingly, compared to other nationalities, Poles seem to be more often aware that using dietary supplements may have an impact on the results of medical laboratory tests and consider it proper to inform lab personnel about their consumed products [9]. Unfortunately, however, still almost one-third of patients who participated in a survey carried out in one of Polish oncology centres indicated that they had not informed their physicians about supplements they were using concurrently [10]. This approach may result from a growing belief among Poles that supplements are not medicines or pharmaceuticals but rather natural products that enhance a regular healthy diet.…”