Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Purpose. Availability without prescription restriction, low cost, and simple oral administration allow cancer patients to use probiotics without knowledge of potential risks. We present a survey of probiotic use and the association with patient tumor characteristics in cancer patients treated at the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735416643828 |
| _version_ | 1819292681701949440 |
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| author | Sona Ciernikova PhD Michal Mego MD, PhD Maria Semanova Lenka Wachsmannova PhD Zuzana Adamcikova PhD Viola Stevurkova Lubos Drgona MD, PhD Vladimir Zajac PhD |
| author_facet | Sona Ciernikova PhD Michal Mego MD, PhD Maria Semanova Lenka Wachsmannova PhD Zuzana Adamcikova PhD Viola Stevurkova Lubos Drgona MD, PhD Vladimir Zajac PhD |
| author_sort | Sona Ciernikova PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose. Availability without prescription restriction, low cost, and simple oral administration allow cancer patients to use probiotics without knowledge of potential risks. We present a survey of probiotic use and the association with patient tumor characteristics in cancer patients treated at the outpatient department of the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia. Patients and Methods. Between March and December 2014, 499 patients were asked to evaluate their overall experience with probiotics by questionnaire form, including the length and method of use relative to anticancer therapy, expectations, side-effect experiences, understanding of the possible risks, dietary supplement use, and others. The relevant data were statistically evaluated. Results. The cohort consisted of 323 women (64.7%) and 176 men (35.3%); 91.6% were undergoing chemotherapy (2.6% together with radiotherapy) and 8.4% had no anticancer therapy. The prevalence of probiotic use was 28.5% and only 12 patients using probiotics (8.5%) described negative side effects. Most patients declared consideration of probiotic use based on recommendation from a physician (37.3%) or a pharmacist (14.8%). Nevertheless, up to 86.6% of patients declared no knowledge of possible risks. Statistically significant correlation was found between probiotic use and age of patients (P < .008), gender (P < .023), and taking other dietary supplements (P < .000002). Conclusions. In this prospective study, we present for the first time the prevalence, side-effect experience, and aspects that most likely influence probiotic use in cancer patients. Minimal knowledge of risks underlines the importance of an active approach by oncologists to inform patients about probiotic safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:58:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2205798d07840259d447253ca1a2855 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1534-7354 1552-695X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:58:24Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2205798d07840259d447253ca1a28552022-12-21T17:16:23ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1534-73541552-695X2017-06-011610.1177/1534735416643828Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer CenterSona Ciernikova PhD0Michal Mego MD, PhD1Maria Semanova2Lenka Wachsmannova PhD3Zuzana Adamcikova PhD4Viola Stevurkova5Lubos Drgona MD, PhD6Vladimir Zajac PhD7Cancer Research Institute BMC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaNational Cancer Institute, Bratislava, SlovakiaComenius University, Bratislava, SlovakiaCancer Research Institute BMC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaCancer Research Institute BMC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaCancer Research Institute BMC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaNational Cancer Institute, Bratislava, SlovakiaCancer Research Institute BMC, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaPurpose. Availability without prescription restriction, low cost, and simple oral administration allow cancer patients to use probiotics without knowledge of potential risks. We present a survey of probiotic use and the association with patient tumor characteristics in cancer patients treated at the outpatient department of the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia. Patients and Methods. Between March and December 2014, 499 patients were asked to evaluate their overall experience with probiotics by questionnaire form, including the length and method of use relative to anticancer therapy, expectations, side-effect experiences, understanding of the possible risks, dietary supplement use, and others. The relevant data were statistically evaluated. Results. The cohort consisted of 323 women (64.7%) and 176 men (35.3%); 91.6% were undergoing chemotherapy (2.6% together with radiotherapy) and 8.4% had no anticancer therapy. The prevalence of probiotic use was 28.5% and only 12 patients using probiotics (8.5%) described negative side effects. Most patients declared consideration of probiotic use based on recommendation from a physician (37.3%) or a pharmacist (14.8%). Nevertheless, up to 86.6% of patients declared no knowledge of possible risks. Statistically significant correlation was found between probiotic use and age of patients (P < .008), gender (P < .023), and taking other dietary supplements (P < .000002). Conclusions. In this prospective study, we present for the first time the prevalence, side-effect experience, and aspects that most likely influence probiotic use in cancer patients. Minimal knowledge of risks underlines the importance of an active approach by oncologists to inform patients about probiotic safety.https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735416643828 |
| spellingShingle | Sona Ciernikova PhD Michal Mego MD, PhD Maria Semanova Lenka Wachsmannova PhD Zuzana Adamcikova PhD Viola Stevurkova Lubos Drgona MD, PhD Vladimir Zajac PhD Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center Integrative Cancer Therapies |
| title | Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| title_full | Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| title_fullStr | Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| title_short | Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| title_sort | probiotic survey in cancer patients treated in the outpatient department in a comprehensive cancer center |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735416643828 |
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