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Research: NAM and colleagues, Di
Listed in Issue 45
Abstract
NAM and colleagues, Division of Urology, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario Canada studied the prevalence and patterns of the use of complementary therapies among patients with and those patients at high risk for prostate cancer .
Background
Methodology
The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of men at 2 clinics, and those attending a prostate cancer support group. All men diagnosed with and those at high risk, having a positive family history or abnormal prostate specific antigen (psa), were eligible for the study. A 9-item self-administered, anonymous questionnaire regarding complementary therapies was given to 357 patients.
Results
Of the 357 patients who received the survey, 155 from the urology clinics and 113 from the support group responded, representing a total response rate of 75%. Of the patients presenting to urology clinics and the support group, 27.4% and 38.9% with prostate cancer and 25.8% and 80% at high risk, respectively, used some form of complementary therapy. Usage differed significantly according to disease status and was highest among men who were clinically disease-free following radical therapy. 24% of the patients did not inform the urologist of using alternative therapy.
Conclusion
Use of complementary therapy among patients with or at increased risk for prostate cancer was high and dependent upon disease state. Urologists need to be aware of this pattern of use when assessing patients with prostate cancer.
References
Nam RK et al. Prevalence and patterns of the use of complementary therapies among prostate cancer patients: an epidemiological analysis. Journal of Urology 161(5): 1521-4. May 1999.
Comment
It would appear from the above research of Nam et al that their main objective in conducting this research was to determine how many prostate patients might be using complementary therapies, as though complementary therapies might represent some huge threat to their conventional treatment. Considering that the usual side-effects of prostate surgery frequently include both impotence and incontinence, it is no wonder that intelligent and well-read men are wanting to look at less dangerous approaches/
