Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer in Occidental, Mexico

PURPOSE: To describe the types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by pediatric cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Western Mexico. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, parents were interviewed and types of CAM employed as well as factors related to their use and their perceived effectiveness were determined. RESULTS: One hundred ten parents of pediatric cancer patients completed the survey. Seventy-seven patients (70%) received CAM. Of CAM used, herbal remedies (69%) and orally administered products (26%) were most common. Mean number of therapies was 2 +/- 1.1 (95% CI 1.59-2.12). Prior CAM use by the family was associated with use in patients (P = 0.006) (OR 4.6, CI 95% 1.7-12.9). Perceived usefulness was reported in 79% of CAM users. CONCLUSION: CAM use in Mexican children is common, most frequently with herbal therapies. The majority perceived benefits with its usage but in most cases, the treating physician was not informed about this practice.