Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pediatric Oncology Patients in South of Iran

Children suffering from cancer frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Most of people do not disclose using CAM to their physicians as they fear to be blamed or prohibited using them. Some of these products may interfere with the conventional remedies. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of CAM use in pediatric oncology patients in 2 referral centers in south of Iran.
In this cross-sectional study, all pediatric cancer patients (from 5 months to 18 years old) registered at two referral center (n=135) were investigated from January to July 2015 in Shiraz, southern Iran. Interview with their parents and completing the specific check list were done. Data were analyzed by SPSS v. 21 using Chi-square and Student t- test.
From 150 families approached, 135 (90%) completed the questionnaires. Overall, 114 (84.4%) children ever used a kind of CAM product while 92.6% sought faith healing. Concurrently, 81.1% of the CAM admitted users applied them with their conventional treatments. The most common used CAM products were Zinc (43.7%) and multivitamins (31.9%). None of the evaluated variables significantly influenced CAM use in the patients. Most of the patients (77%) introduced their physicians as the source of knowledge about CAM which was the most trusted source as well. About half of the patients (50.9%) did not inform their physicians to use these products.
Oncologists should be aware of highly prevalent use of CAM among their patients. They should discuss with the families about the possible interactions of these products may have with chemotherapy drugs. A filled diary at regular intervals may help the physicians to monitor CAM use in their oncology patients.