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Vol 71, No 6 (2021)
Research paper (original)
Published online: 2021-11-04
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The scope of complementary and alternative medicine in Poland

Adrian Perdyan1, Magdalena Wasiukiewicz2, Piotr Szastok2, Jacek Jassem3
DOI: 10.5603/NJO.a2021.0068
·
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2021;71(6):357-372.
Affiliations
  1. International Research Agenda 3P Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  2. Student Scientific Circle of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
  3. Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

open access

Vol 71, No 6 (2021)
Original article
Published online: 2021-11-04

Abstract

Introduction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by patients. The most frequent CAM users are patients with cancer, but patients with other chronic diseases also utilize these methods.

Materials and methods. Data on the use of CAM were obtained from Google searches. For each specific search term, the first three Google pages were analyzed.

Results. The analysis included 91 CAM institutions matching the inclusion criteria. The most common anticancer servi­ces were intravenous vitamin C infusion, saltwater, intravenous infusion of glutathione, colon irrigation, an anticancer diet, bio-resonance, and intravenous ozone infusions. The most common non-cancer entities treated were rheumatic diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, arterial hypertension, allergies, borreliosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and depression. Anticancer therapies were more expensive than those used for non-malignant diseases (medians 250 PLN and 170 PLN, respectively; p = 0.041).

Conclusions. This study provides a comprehensive overview of CAM methods used in Poland. These data may facilitate social education and the development of preventive measures.

Abstract

Introduction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by patients. The most frequent CAM users are patients with cancer, but patients with other chronic diseases also utilize these methods.

Materials and methods. Data on the use of CAM were obtained from Google searches. For each specific search term, the first three Google pages were analyzed.

Results. The analysis included 91 CAM institutions matching the inclusion criteria. The most common anticancer servi­ces were intravenous vitamin C infusion, saltwater, intravenous infusion of glutathione, colon irrigation, an anticancer diet, bio-resonance, and intravenous ozone infusions. The most common non-cancer entities treated were rheumatic diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, arterial hypertension, allergies, borreliosis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and depression. Anticancer therapies were more expensive than those used for non-malignant diseases (medians 250 PLN and 170 PLN, respectively; p = 0.041).

Conclusions. This study provides a comprehensive overview of CAM methods used in Poland. These data may facilitate social education and the development of preventive measures.

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Keywords

complementary medicine; alternative medicine; cancer; chronic diseases

About this article
Title

The scope of complementary and alternative medicine in Poland

Journal

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology

Issue

Vol 71, No 6 (2021)

Article type

Research paper (original)

Pages

357-372

Published online

2021-11-04

Page views

6219

Article views/downloads

710

DOI

10.5603/NJO.a2021.0068

Bibliographic record

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2021;71(6):357-372.

Keywords

complementary medicine
alternative medicine
cancer
chronic diseases

Authors

Adrian Perdyan
Magdalena Wasiukiewicz
Piotr Szastok
Jacek Jassem

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