Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study
(1) Background: Little data are available in Western countries regarding self-medication practices in the context of cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of self-medication practices during (cancer patients) and after cancer (cancer survivors). (2) Methods: This multicenter,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/12/3190 |
| _version_ | 1797595603611418624 |
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| author | Julie Maraud Sabrina Bedhomme Bruno Pereira Sophie Trévis Marine Jary David Balayssac |
| author_facet | Julie Maraud Sabrina Bedhomme Bruno Pereira Sophie Trévis Marine Jary David Balayssac |
| author_sort | Julie Maraud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Little data are available in Western countries regarding self-medication practices in the context of cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of self-medication practices during (cancer patients) and after cancer (cancer survivors). (2) Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional, and online study was designed to assess self-medication prevalence. Other objectives were explored, notably the medication types, the perceived risks, and the relation with symptoms and quality of life. (3) Results: Among the 518 patients analyzed, 56.4% declared they practiced self-medication. Dietary supplements and pain medications were used by more than half of the patients. Self-medication was practiced in order to manage the adverse effects of anticancer therapies (63.8%), for which pain was the leading indication (39%), and to improve the efficacy of anticancer therapies (43.8%, cancer patients). Patients believed that self-medication could not lead to drug interactions with anticancer therapies (84.9%, cancer patients), or to adverse effects (84.6%, cancer patients and survivors). Self-medication practices were associated with altered social functioning, pain, insomnia, and financial difficulties. (4) Conclusions: Self-medication was performed by more than half of the responders (ongoing or past cancer) and could be a marker of the undermanagement of cancer and treatment-related adverse effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:39:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-889d24f541b04feab3de72df1b8dde0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:39:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-889d24f541b04feab3de72df1b8dde0e2023-11-18T09:40:46ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-06-011512319010.3390/cancers15123190Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional StudyJulie Maraud0Sabrina Bedhomme1Bruno Pereira2Sophie Trévis3Marine Jary4David Balayssac5UFR de Pharmacie, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceUR ACCePPT, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceDirection de la Recherche Clinique et de l’Innovation, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FrancePharmacie, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceChirurgie et Oncologie Digestive, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceUMR1107, NEURO-DOL, INSERM, Direction de la Recherche Clinique et de l’Innovation, Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France(1) Background: Little data are available in Western countries regarding self-medication practices in the context of cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of self-medication practices during (cancer patients) and after cancer (cancer survivors). (2) Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional, and online study was designed to assess self-medication prevalence. Other objectives were explored, notably the medication types, the perceived risks, and the relation with symptoms and quality of life. (3) Results: Among the 518 patients analyzed, 56.4% declared they practiced self-medication. Dietary supplements and pain medications were used by more than half of the patients. Self-medication was practiced in order to manage the adverse effects of anticancer therapies (63.8%), for which pain was the leading indication (39%), and to improve the efficacy of anticancer therapies (43.8%, cancer patients). Patients believed that self-medication could not lead to drug interactions with anticancer therapies (84.9%, cancer patients), or to adverse effects (84.6%, cancer patients and survivors). Self-medication practices were associated with altered social functioning, pain, insomnia, and financial difficulties. (4) Conclusions: Self-medication was performed by more than half of the responders (ongoing or past cancer) and could be a marker of the undermanagement of cancer and treatment-related adverse effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/12/3190cancerself-medicationhealth-related quality of lifesymptoms |
| spellingShingle | Julie Maraud Sabrina Bedhomme Bruno Pereira Sophie Trévis Marine Jary David Balayssac Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study Cancers cancer self-medication health-related quality of life symptoms |
| title | Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Self-Medication during and after Cancer: A French Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | self medication during and after cancer a french nation wide cross sectional study |
| topic | cancer self-medication health-related quality of life symptoms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/12/3190 |
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