Patterns and Trends of Herbal Medicine Use among Patients with Gynecologic Cancer

Abstract

Background More and more information about complementary and integrative medicine is becoming available, especially among cancer patients. However, little is known about the use of herbal medicine by patients with gynecologic cancers. This study aimed to assess the use of herbal products by gynecologic cancer patients compared with healthy controls.

Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital and included 201 patients with gynecologic cancer and 212 healthy controls. Use of herbal medicines was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. Medical information on cancer patients was collected from hospital records. Group comparisons were done using a logistic regression model. Risk ratios were assessed using a Poisson regression model.

Results Gynecologic cancer patients used herbal medicine significantly less often than healthy persons. 69% of gynecologic cancer patients and 81% of healthy participants reported using herbal products. 40% of cancer patients and 56% of healthy persons reported using plants for medicinal purposes. Motives of cancer patients for using herbal medicine included treatment of cancer-related symptoms. The major source of information for both groups was family and friends.

Conclusions Although herbal medicine was used less by patients with gynecologic cancer, herbal products were used by both cancer patients and healthy individuals. To provide cancer patients with optimal therapy, oncologists should be informed about the herbal products used by their patients as this will allow them to take their patientsʼ self-medication with herbal medicine into account. Counseling by oncologists on the use of herbal medicine should be encouraged.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Immer mehr Informationen zu integrativer und komplementärer Medizin sind verfügbar, besonders für Krebspatienten. Noch ist aber wenig über die Verwendung von pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln durch Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs bekannt. Ziel dieser Studie war es, mehr über die Verwendung pflanzlicher Mittel durch Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs im Vergleich mit einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe zu erfahren.

Methoden Diese Querschnittsuntersuchung wurde an der Abteilung für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen durchgeführt. 201 Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs und 212 gesunde Kontrollpersonen wurden in die Studie aufgenommen. Die Verwendung von pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln wurde anhand eines standardisierten Fragenbogens evaluiert. Die medizinischen Daten zu den Krebspatientinnen wurden den Krankenhausakten entnommen. Gruppenvergleiche wurden mithilfe eines logistischen Regressionsmodells durchgeführt. Ein Poisson-Regressionsmodell wurde verwendet, um Risikoquoten auszuwerten.

Ergebnisse Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs verwendeten pflanzliche Arzneimittel signifikant weniger als die gesunden Frauen in der Kontrollgruppe. 69% der Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs und 81% der gesunden Teilnehmerinnen gaben an, pflanzliche Produkte zu benutzen. 40% der Krebspatientinnen und 56% der gesunden Personen gaben an, dass sie pflanzliche Produkte für medizinische Zwecke verwendeten. Die Behandlung von krebsbedingten Symptomen war einer der von den Krebspatientinnen angegebenen Gründe für die Verwendung von pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln. Die Hauptinformationsquellen für beide Gruppen waren Familie und Freunde.

Schlussfolgerungen Obwohl pflanzliche Arzneimittel weniger oft von Patientinnen mit gynäkologischem Krebs eingenommen werden, verwenden sowohl Krebspatientinnen als auch gesunde Personen pflanzliche Produkte. Um Krebspatientinnen eine optimale Therapie zu ermöglichen, sollten Onkologen über die von ihren Patientinnen verwendeten pflanzlichen Mittel informiert werden, damit sie die zur Selbstbehandlung verwendeten pflanzlichen Arzneimittel berücksichtigen können. Eine Beratung zum Einsatz von pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln durch den Onkologen sollte gefördert werden.

Key words

cancer - gynecologic oncology - herbal medicine - integrative medicine - complementary and alternative medicine

Schlüsselwörter

Krebs - gynäkologische Onkologie - pflanzliche Arzneimittel - integrative Medizin - alternative und komplementäre Medizin

Publication History

Received: 28 January 2021

Accepted after revision: 20 April 2021

Article published online:
21 June 2021

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