TY - JOUR
T1 - The clinical use of Kampo medicines (traditional Japanese herbal treatments) for controlling cancer patients' symptoms in Japan
T2 - A national cross-sectional survey
AU - Iwase, Satoru
AU - Yamaguchi, Takuhiro
AU - Miyaji, Tempei
AU - Terawaki, Kiyoshi
AU - Inui, Akio
AU - Uezono, Yasuhito
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for the Third-term Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan and the Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research in Japan, as well as a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology of Japan.
PY - 2012/11/20
Y1 - 2012/11/20
N2 - Background: Kampo medicines are traditional Japanese medicines produced from medicinal plants and herbs. Even though the efficacy of Kampo medicines for controlling cancer-related symptoms is being reported, their actual nationwide clinical use has not been comprehensively investigated. We aimed to investigate physicians' recognition of Kampo medicines and their clinical use for cancer patients in the field of palliative care.Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 549 physicians working in palliative care teams at 388 core cancer treatment hospitals and 161 certified medical institutions that have palliative care units (PCUs).Results: Valid responses were obtained from 311 physicians (response rate, 56.7%) who were evenly distributed throughout the country without significant geographical biases. Kampo medicines were prescribed for controlling cancer-related symptoms by 64.3% of the physicians. The symptoms treated with Kampo medicines were numbness/hypoesthesia (n = 99, 49.5%), constipation (n = 76, 38.0%), anorexia/weight loss (n = 72, 36%), muscle cramps (n = 71, 35.5%) and languor/fatigue (n = 64, 32.0%). Regarding open issues about prescription, 60.7% (n = 173) of the physicians raised the issue that the dosage forms need to be better devised.Conclusions: To increase the clinical use of Kampo medicines, more evidence from clinical studies is necessary. In addition, their mechanisms of action should be clarified through laboratory studies.
AB - Background: Kampo medicines are traditional Japanese medicines produced from medicinal plants and herbs. Even though the efficacy of Kampo medicines for controlling cancer-related symptoms is being reported, their actual nationwide clinical use has not been comprehensively investigated. We aimed to investigate physicians' recognition of Kampo medicines and their clinical use for cancer patients in the field of palliative care.Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 549 physicians working in palliative care teams at 388 core cancer treatment hospitals and 161 certified medical institutions that have palliative care units (PCUs).Results: Valid responses were obtained from 311 physicians (response rate, 56.7%) who were evenly distributed throughout the country without significant geographical biases. Kampo medicines were prescribed for controlling cancer-related symptoms by 64.3% of the physicians. The symptoms treated with Kampo medicines were numbness/hypoesthesia (n = 99, 49.5%), constipation (n = 76, 38.0%), anorexia/weight loss (n = 72, 36%), muscle cramps (n = 71, 35.5%) and languor/fatigue (n = 64, 32.0%). Regarding open issues about prescription, 60.7% (n = 173) of the physicians raised the issue that the dosage forms need to be better devised.Conclusions: To increase the clinical use of Kampo medicines, more evidence from clinical studies is necessary. In addition, their mechanisms of action should be clarified through laboratory studies.
KW - Kampo
KW - Kampo medicine
KW - Palliative care
KW - Survey
KW - Symptom management
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U2 - 10.1186/1472-6882-12-222
DO - 10.1186/1472-6882-12-222
M3 - Article
C2 - 23167528
AN - SCOPUS:84869151091
VL - 12
JO - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
SN - 1472-6882
M1 - 1205
ER -