Alternative medicine as a complementary form of treatment in the oncological patients’ opinion

Recently one can observe an increase in using non-conventional therapies in the case of tumor treatment. This is mainly caused by increasing health consciousness and determination of patients and their families. The simultaneous appliance of conventional and non-conventional methods can influence efficiency, soothe side effect, improve patients’ living conditions and attitudes, for example: acupuncture, certain herbal specimens, yoga, proper diet. The aim of this paper is to show oncological patients’ opinions on alternative medicine and its implementation as a complementary in tumor treatment. The study is based on questionnaire research performed among Maria Skłodowska-Curie Oncological Institute in Gliwice on May and June 2008. The sample was 100 (56 male, 44 female). The majority of the interviewees (82%) were familiar with non-conventional medicine concept, 20% of them used some of its methods. As the most effective non-conventional methods interviewees indicate filotherapy, homeo­pathy, bioenergy therapy. Better alternative methods knowledge was observed among interviewed males and they were prone to spend more on visits and medications. More than a half of interviewed (54%) declares the intention to use alternative methods as a complementary to conventional ones.