Publication

Socio-demographic and medical characteristics of advanced cancer patients using conventional or complementary medicine

Journal Paper/Review - Apr 1, 2002

Units
PubMed

Citation
Pampallona S, Von Rohr E, Van Wegberg B, Bernhard J, Helwig S, Heusser P, Huerny C, Schaad R, Cerny T. Socio-demographic and medical characteristics of advanced cancer patients using conventional or complementary medicine. Onkologie 2002; 25:165-70.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Onkologie 2002; 25
Publication Date
Apr 1, 2002
Issn Print
0378-584X
Pages
165-70
Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND: To provide prospective comparative data describing the profiles of two patient populations attending conventional or complementary medicine institutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A registration study was set up in an oncology ward at the Institute for Medical Oncology (IMO) of the University Hospital in Bern, and at the Lukas Clinic (LC) for Anthroposophical Cancer Treatment in Arlesheim, Switzerland. The same eligibility criteria were applied to enrol into the study all newly referred or newly diagnosed patients with advanced cancer over a 2-year period. Their socio- demographic and clinical characteristics at presentation have been compared between the two institutions. RESULTS: Patients at LC are primarily females, of higher educational level, and living in an urban environment. Patients at LC are also more frequently of poorer performance status but present with less comorbidity and a longer interval between diagnosis of metastatic disease and accrual into the study. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the respective merits of these two schools of medicine can be assessed successfully only through a concrete research partnership based on rigorously controlled clinical trials.