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Homeopathy 2021; 110(03): 168-173
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721065
Original Research Article

Use of Homeopathy in Integrative Oncology in Strasbourg, France: Multi-center Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study of Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Jean-Lionel Bagot 
1   Saint-Vincent Hospital Group, Strasbourg, France
,
Adeline Legrand
2   Cabinet of General Medicine, Strasbourg, France
,
Ingrid Theunissen
3   Hôpital Delta, Chirec, Brussels, Belgium
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Context The use of homeopathy in oncological supportive care seems to be progressing. The first French prevalence study, performed in 2005 in Strasbourg, showed that only 17% of the subjects were using it. What is the situation 12 years later?

Materials and Methods This is a descriptive study, using a questionnaire identical to that used in 2005, on 633 patients undergoing treatment in three anti-cancer centers in Strasbourg. The results of the “homeopathy” sub-group were extracted and studied.

Results Of the 535 patients included, 164 used homeopathy: that is 30.7%. The main purpose of its use was to reduce the side effects of cancer treatments (75%). Among the users, 82.6% were “somewhat” or “very” satisfied, against “quite” satisfied for 15.5%, and “not at all” satisfied for 1.9%. The homeopathic treatment was prescribed by a doctor in 75.6% of the cases; the general practitioner was kept informed in 87% of the cases and the oncologist in 82%. Fatigue, pain, nausea, anxiety, sadness and diarrhea were improved in 80% of the cases. However, alopecia, weight disorders and loss of libido were the least improved symptoms. The use of homeopathy was significantly associated with the female sex.

Conclusion With a prevalence of 30.7%, homeopathy is the most used complementary medicine in integrative oncology in Strasbourg. Over 12 years, we have witnessed an increase of 83% in its use in the same city. Almost all respondents declare themselves satisfied and tell their doctors more readily than in 2005.

Keywords

complementary medicine - homeopathy - integrative oncology - prevalence - supportive care

Highlights

• With 30.7% of all respondents, homeopathy was the most used CIM in oncological supportive care.


• With an increase of 83% in 12 years, in the same town, the progression of the use of homeopathy in supportive cancer care is confirmed.


• A 97% satisfaction rate supports the figures found in other studies.


• Increasingly, the patients inform the doctor and oncologist of their using homeopathy treatment (87 and 82%, respectively).


• Fatigue, the most frequently mentioned (80%), was considered as the symptom most often improved by homeopathic supportive care treatment.


Note

The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review these data if requested.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 24 May 2020

Accepted: 10 September 2020

Article published online:
04 March 2021

© 2021. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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