The use of non-proven therapy among patients treated in norwegian oncological departments. A cross-sectional national multicentre study

doi:10.1016/0959-8049(95)00328-G

European Journal of Cancer

Volume 31, Issue 11, October 1995, Pages 1785-1789

https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(95)00328-G Get rights and content

Abstract

A national multicentre study was performed to investigate the prevalent use of “alternative medicine”, here called “non-proven therapies (NPT)”, applied among Norwegian cancer patients. Of 911 patients invited to take part in the study, 642 were included in the analysis. Demographic characteristics were collected for all patients. The participating physicians gave information about the patients' clinical characteristics. Among 630 evaluable patients, 20% had been or were present users of NPTs for their oncological disease. The preferred methods were healing by hand and faith healing. Herbs, vitamins, diets and Iscador were other popular methods. As many as 40% of the users of NPTs had used NPTs earlier for non-malignant diseases. Elderly patients were less likely to use NPTs. Use was high in the northern part of Norway.

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Original paperThe use of non-proven therapy among patients treated in norwegian oncological departments. A cross-sectional national multicentre study

Abstract

En undersøkelse om kreftpasienters medisinske og sosiale situasjon

The use of alternative medicine among patients

J Norweg Med Assoc

Unconventional medicine in the United States. Prevalence, costs and patterns of use

N Engl J Med

Alternative therapies, 1990

Cancer

OTA-H-405

Årsaker til kreftsykdom og bruk av alternativ medisin

Statistical Methods in Cancer Research. The Analysis of Case-Control Studies

Contemporary unorthodox treatments in cancer medicine

Ann Intern Med

“Health Information and the use of Questionnaire Treatments: A study of the American Public”, conducted for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, study number 833015

Original paper
The use of non-proven therapy among patients treated in norwegian oncological departments. A cross-sectional national multicentre study