ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY USE IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA - PREVALENCE AND REASONS FOR USE AND NONUSE

Purpose: Alternative and complementary therapies are infrequently stud ied in pediatric populations. We performed a population-based survey t o aid health care workers in identifying and counseling parents who ma y use these remedies. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively surveye d the parents of 583 pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer in Briti sh Columbia between 1989 and 1995. Prevalence and factors that influen ce che use and non-use of alternative and complementary therapies were estimated, Results: Alternative and complementary therapies were used by 42% of 366 respondents, Herbal teas, plant extracts, and therapeut ic vitamins were the most commonly used alternative therapies. Relaxat ion/imagery strategies, massage, and therapeutic couch were the most c ommonly used complementary techniques. Factors that influenced the use of alternative/complementary therapies were prior use (chi(2) = 60.0, P < .0001), prior positive attitude cowards these remedies (chi(2) = 41.6, P < .0001), soliciting information from family and friends (chi( 2) = 70.5, P < .0001) or from alternative care givers (chi(2) = 58.7, P < .0001), high risk of death at diagnosis (chi(2) = 9.6, P < .002), and advanced education of the father (chi(2) = 7.4, P < .006) or mothe r (chi(2) = 8.6, P < .003). Parents who used alternative/complementary therapies did so in conjunction with conventional medicine (98%). Lac k of knowledge and fear of interference with conventional therapies we re che most common reasons cited for nonuse. Ho parent believed that t he quality of life of their child deteriorated due to the use of alter native/complementary therapies. Conclusion: Alternative and complement ary therapy use in pediatric oncology patients is common, Factors have been identified that may be associated with undertaking their use, (C ) 1998 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.