Amaranto Suárez

Aproximaciones complementarias y alternativas al cuidado de la salud en niños con cáncer: Estudio con grupos focales

Objectives This study seeks to identify what kinds of complimentary approaches and health care alternatives are used by parents or caregivers of children with cancer treated at the National Cancer Institute in Bogota, as well as the mechanisms of action which allow them to be achieved.

Utilización de terapias complementarias y alternativas en niños con cáncer

Objective To determine the frequency, characteristics and related factors for the use of complementary and alternative therapies in pediatric patients with cancer in a Colombian pediatric oncology department. METHODS Cross-sectional study consisting of a survey of 398 caregivers of pediatrics patients with cancer evaluated in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia. The survey collected sociodemographic and clinical information and evaluated the type of complementary and alternative therapies, mechanisms of action, and patterns of use of these treatments. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of complementary and alternative therapies use. Results In this study complementary therapies were used not as a substitute but in addition to conventional treatments to cure or to control the disease or to treat symptoms. A total of 326 patients (81.9 %, CI95 %: 77.8 % to 85.6 %) had received some type of complementary therapy and 81 different types of therapies were used. The most common type of complementary therapy corresponded to the group of biologically based therapies (mainly berry juices). Female family caregivers with higher educational status were more likely to use complementary therapies. Time from diagnosis and having received surgical treatment were also associated with the use of therapies. Reinforcement of the immune system appears to be the most likely mechanism of action. Conclusion A high prevalence of use of complementary therapies was found in this sample. Pediatricians need to ask their patients about complementary and alternative therapy practices considering the potential for interactions with pharmacological treatments or adverse effects.

Aspectos clínicos y demora para el diagnóstico en niños con tumores del sistema nervioso central en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de Colombia

Objective To determine the clinical presentation and the time interval between the clinical presentation and diagnosis of central nervous system tumors in children treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).