Complementary and alternative medicine used by pediatric patients with cancer in western Turkey.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, the types of therapies employed, and the reasons for choosing those therapies. DESIGN: Descriptive type, cross-sectional. SETTING: Pediatric oncology department in western Turkey. SAMPLE: 112 children receiving or completing treatment for cancer. METHODS: Parents of 112 children completed a questionnaire regarding CAM use. Analyses included examining correlations between CAM use and demographic variables. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: CAM use and demographic variables. FINDINGS: 77% of the patients used one or more type of CAM, with herb use being the most common. CONCLUSIONS: About 75% of parents used CAM for their children. However, about 25% sought discussion with the physician about the CAM they were using. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses should approach their patients without prejudice, gather information about the various CAM techniques, and share this knowledge with their patients