Knowledge and use of complementary therapies in a tertiary care hospital in France: A preliminary study. Issue 45 (6th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Michel-Cherqui, Mireille; Had-Bujon, Rebecca; Mongereau, Aurèlie; Delannoy, Caroline; Feliot, Elodie; Scotté, Florian; Fischler, Marc
• Other Names: Bush. Eric section editor.
• Is Part Of: Medicine. Volume 99:Issue 45(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-06
• Subjects: cancer -- chronic disease -- complementary therapies -- pain -- renal dialysis; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Geneeskunde; Medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-7974

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Few studies have clarified the use of complementary therapies (CTs) in France. The main objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate knowledge of CTs in 4 representative groups of patients: patients suffering from cancer, patients presenting with a chronic noncancerous disease, chronic dialysis patients and nonchronic or cancerous patients needing surgery. A formalized questionnaire was designed by 2 psychologists, an oncologist and an anesthesiologist in charge of the Pain Clinic and Support Care Unit. One-hundred eleven patients were enrolled, and all agreed to complete the questionnaire. Eighty (72%) patients did not know the term "complementary therapies" (patients who were "not aware of CTs"), and 24 (21.6%) patients knew the term "complementary therapies" (patients who were "aware of CTs"), while 7 patients were not sure of the meaning. There were no differences between aware and unaware patients in gender ( P = .27), age ( P = .24), level of education (p = 0.24) or professional occupation ( P = .06). Knowledge about CTs was significantly different among the different categories of patients ( P = .03), with the only statistically significant difference between groups being between oncologic patients receiving ambulatory chemotherapy and patients presenting with a chronic noncancerous disease ( P = .004). This preliminary study clearly highlights that patients and health caregivers are not aware of CTs and that there is a need for better communication about CTs. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text