[Use of alternative and complementary medicine in pediatric cancer: investigation of 100 cases at a level III care institute]. / Uso de la medicina alternativa y complementaria (MAC) en cáncer infantil: encuesta de 100 casos en un instituto del tercer nivel de atención.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Alternative medicine is well accepted and widely used in Mexico so we researched the frequency and reasons for the use of alternative or complementary treatment (ACT) in pediatric oncologic patients at the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP). METHODS: One hundred questionnaires were applied to caregivers of children with cancer in a course of 100 hundred consecutive patients. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of caregivers interviewed accepted the use of some kind of ACT; biological therapies were the most frequent treatments used, and 73% felt satisfied with the results. Caregivers told their physicians they were using ACT in 35% of the questionnaires analyzed, and only 2% of the physicians asked directly about its use. None of the caregivers substituted or stopped allopathic treatment. ANALYSIS: These questionnaires reveal that more than a half of the caregivers use ACT. We believe superstitious and cultural beliefs, as well as the desire of the caregivers to participate actively in their patient's treatment, are the main reasons for the use of ACT; nevertheless, some caregivers do not notify their physicians and this may affect chemotherapy treatment in ways not investigated yet. CONCLUSIONS: The wide use of ACT in Mexico obliges every physician to enquire into it intentionally. It is therefore necessary to establish a stratification risk according to the combination of ACT and allopathic treatment used.