• CAM-summaries
• CAM systematic reviews
• CAM and the law
• Prevalence of CAM use
  • Austria
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • United Kingdom

Austria

Period of Data Collection	No. of included pats.	Diagnosis	Prevalence of CAM	CAM, mostly used	Reference
<1986	234	Patients with gynecol. cancer (73% breast)	62% used CAM	teas	(1)
1986-1991	295	Patients with gynecol. cancer (breast 71%)	51% used CAM	juices and diets	(2)
1992-1997	215	Patients with melanoma	14% used CAM	homeopathy	(3)
	154	Patients with various forms of cancer	62% used CAM	diets	(4)
	117	Patients with breast cancer	47% used CAM	special vegetable drinks	(5)
	172	Patients with various forms of cancer	24% used CAM	multivitamins	(6)
1998-2003	215	Patients with gynecol. cancer	49% used CAM	combination of enzyms, red beet, iron and vitamins	(7)
	822	Patients with prostate cancer	30% used CAM	low fat diet	(8)

References

(1) Fereberger W, Samonigg H, Pfeiffer KP, Rainer F. Naturheilmittel und Paramedizin in der Onkologie. Wien Med Wochenschr 1983;17:443.

(2) Beaufort F, Drofenik M, Pleyer K. Beurteilung von Medikamenten mit fraglicher Wirksamkeit und sogenannten Natur-heilmitteln in der Onkologie durch den Patienten - Ergebnisse einer Umfrage. Wien Med Wochenschr 1988;4:85-91.

(3) Söllner W, Zingg-Schir M, Rumpold G, Fritsch P. Attitude toward alternative therapy, compliance with standard treatment, and need for emotional support in patients with melanoma [see comments]. Arch Dermatol 1997;133(3):316-21.

(4) Rasky E, Stronegger W-J, Freidl W. [Use of unconventional therapies by cancer patients]. Soz Praventivmed 1999;44(1):22-9.

(5) Moschen R, Kemmler G, Schweigkofler H, Holzner B, Dünser M, Richter Ret al. Use of alternative / complementary therapy in breast cancer patients - a psychological perspective. Support Care Cancer 2001;9:267-74.

(6) Söllner W, Maislinger S, DeVries A, Steixner E, Rumpold G, Lukas P. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients is not associated with perceived distress or poor compliance with standard treatment but with active coping be-havior. Cancer 2000;89(4):873-80.

(7) Petru E, Schmied P, Petru C. Komplementäre Maßnahmen bei Patientinnen mit gynäkologischen Malignomen unter Chemo- und Hormontherapie. Bestandsaufnahme und kritische Überlegungen für die Praxis. Geburtsh Frauenheilk 2001;61:75-8.

(8) Ponholzer A, Struhal G, Madersbacher S. Frequent use of complementary medicine by prostate cancer patients. Eur Urol 2003;43(6):604-8.