Of the patients who did not use CAM, 43% said they were happy with conventional treatment, 34% said they had never thought of CAM and 15% did not believe in it. Other reasons included discouragement by their family, lack of information or inability to pay.
Dr Molassiotis said the study had limitations arising from a variety of difficulties in conducting Europe- wide research e.g. problems maintaining consistency, no access to medical records, specific ethics committees' requirements etc., so that did have to be borne in mind when evaluating the results.
"Nevertheless, although CAM use in Europe is lower than in the US according to North American surveys, our study indicates that the average mean use in Europe has increased since a review of 29 studies was published in 1998."
Research funding for CAM has increased, he said, but was still very low only around 0.31% of all medical research funding in the UK, for example.
"We cannot overemphasise the need to increase the evidence base of CAM therapies using methodologies that are appropriate and sensitive. It's also important from an economic point of view as CAM is a multibillion Euro business in fact the second biggest growth industry and some patients pay large sums out of their own pockets to access it.
"We must also have appropriate legislation and regulation in Europe as there are wide variations across countries. Since it appears that CAM is here to stay, the EU needs to consider broader policies, common laws and rationalisation of available legislation," Dr Molassiotis concluded.
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Contact: Margaret Willson
m.willson@mwcommunications.org.uk
44-153-677-2181
European Society for Medical Oncology
2-Feb-2005