Primary Care Clinical Sciences, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Br J Cancer. 2011 Mar 15;104(6):927-33. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2011.47. Epub 2011 Mar 1.
A large proportion of cancer patients are estimated to use herbal medicines, but data to substantiate this are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of herbal medicine use among cancer patients in the West Midlands, and determine the characteristics predicting herbal medicine use.
A cross-sectional survey of oncology patients (n=1498) being followed up at a hospital in Coventry was undertaken. Recipients were asked about herbal medicine use since their cancer diagnosis, and the association between sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics and herbal medicine use was evaluated.
A total of 1134 responses were received (75.7%). The prevalence of herbal medicine use was 19.7% (95% CI: 17.4-22.1; n=223). Users were more likely to be affluent, female, and aged under 50 years. Usage increased with time since cancer diagnosis (X(2) for trend=4.63; P=0.031). A validation data set, derived from a survey of oncology patients in Birmingham (n=541) with differing socioeconomic characteristics showed no significant difference in estimated prevalence (16.6%; 95% CI: 11.9-22.2).
A substantial number of people with cancer are likely to be taking herbal medicines. Understanding the self-medication behaviours of these individuals is essential if health-care professionals are to support treatment adherence and avoid unwanted pharmacological interactions.
据估计，很大一部分癌症患者会使用草药，但缺乏相关数据来证实这一点。本研究旨在调查西米德兰兹地区癌症患者使用草药的情况，并确定预测使用草药的特征。
对考文垂一家医院接受随访的肿瘤患者（n=1498）进行了横断面调查。询问患者自癌症诊断以来是否使用过草药，评估社会人口统计学和癌症相关特征与使用草药之间的关系。
共收到 1134 份回复（75.7%）。草药使用的患病率为 19.7%（95%CI：17.4-22.1；n=223）。使用者更可能富有、女性和年龄在 50 岁以下。随着癌症诊断后时间的推移，使用量增加（趋势 X(2)=4.63；P=0.031）。从伯明翰的一项肿瘤患者调查（n=541）中得出的验证数据集显示，在估计的患病率方面没有显著差异（16.6%；95%CI：11.9-22.2）。
许多癌症患者可能正在服用草药。如果医疗保健专业人员要支持治疗依从性并避免不必要的药物相互作用，了解这些个体的自我用药行为至关重要。
