Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26694320›Full record

ArticlePloS one2015

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Cancer: A Study at a Swiss University Hospital.

Tatjana Magi, Claudia E Kuehni, Loredana Torchetti, Laura Wengenroth, Sonja Lüer, Martin Frei-Erb

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Development of an evidence-based decision aid on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and pain for parents of children with cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2020
    Pooled it
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  12. Supportive care and osteopathic medicine in pediatric oncology: perspectives of current oncology clinicians, caregivers, and patients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021
    Article
  13. Review
  14. Mind-Body Therapies in Childhood Cancer.Current psychiatry reports · 2018
    Review
  15. The Ethics of Using Complementary Medicine in Pediatric Oncology Trials: Reconciling Challenges.The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics · 2018
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  16. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Tatjana MagiSwiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Claudia E KuehniSwiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Loredana TorchettiInstitute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Laura WengenrothSwiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sonja LüerDivision of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
Martin Frei-ErbInstitute of Complementary Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThough complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are frequently used by children and adolescents with cancer, there is little information on how and why they use it. This study examined prevalence and methods of CAM, the therapists who applied it, reasons for and against using CAM and its perceived effectiveness. Parent-perceived communication was also evaluated. Parents were asked if medical staff provided information on CAM to patients, if parents reported use of CAM to physicians, and what attitude they thought physicians had toward CAM. STUDY

designAll childhood cancer patients treated at the University Children's Hospital Bern between 2002-2011 were retrospectively surveyed about their use of CAM.

resultsData was collected from 133 patients (response rate: 52%). Of those, 53% had used CAM (mostly classical homeopathy) and 25% of patients received information about CAM from medical staff. Those diagnosed more recently were more likely to be informed about CAM options. The most frequent reason for choosing CAM was that parents thought it would improve the patient's general condition. The most frequent reason for not using CAM was lack of information. Of those who used CAM, 87% perceived positive effects.

conclusionsSince many pediatric oncology patients use CAM, patients' needs should be addressed by open communication between families, treating oncologists and CAM therapists, which will allow parents to make informed and safe choices about using CAM.

Indexed as

AdolescentChildChild, PreschoolComplementary TherapiesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleNeoplasmsRetrospective StudiesSwitzerland

Identifiers

PMID26694320
PMCPMC4687920

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.