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Main Article

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients attending a head and neck oncology clinic

M Shakeela1, J R Newtona1 c1, J Brucea1 and K W Ah-Seea1 a1 Department of Otolaryngology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK

Article author query shakeel m   newton jr   bruce j   ah-see kw

Abstract

Introduction: Within the United Kingdom, there are 50 000 practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine, with five million people consulting these practitioners yearly. The aim of this study was to explore the use of such therapies by patients attending a head and neck oncology clinic in Aberdeen.

Method: Questionnaires were distributed to 200 patients over an eight-week period. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding: demographic factors; 48 listed herbal preparations and alternative therapies; reasons for their use; and opinions on their efficacy.

Results: One hundred and thirty-eight patients completed the questionnaires. Fifty per cent (69/138) of respondents had used complementary and alternative medicine previously, with 26 per cent having used it in the preceding year. Fifty-five per cent of respondents learned about complementary and alternative medicine use from friends, and the majority obtained such medicines by purchasing from a shop. Fifty per cent (34/69) of respondents stated that their family physician was unaware of their use of complementary and alternative medicine.

Conclusion: All medical practitioners should be aware of increasing complementary and alternative medicine usage by the United Kingdom population, and should be able to counsel patients appropriately.

(Accepted December 18 2007)

Key wordsHead and Neck; Cancer; Alternative Medicine; Complementary Medicine

Correspondence:

^c1 Address for correspondence: Mr J R Newton, Department of Otolaryngology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, Scotland, UK. E-mail: Jnewton59@hotmail.com

Footnotes

Presented at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Audit Symposium, 16 March 2007, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Mr J R Newton takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper.

Competing interests: None declared