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Les médecines alternatives et complémentaires chez les patients cancéreux en cours de traitement à Marrakech, Maroc : étude prospective

Complementary medicine in cancer patients under treatment in Marrakech, Morocco: a prospective study

Bulletin de la Société de pathologie exotique

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Résumé

L’utilisation des médecines alternatives et complémentaires (MAC) est très fréquente chez les patients cancéreux. Les objectifs de cette étude sont d’analyser la fréquence et les raisons d’utilisation des MAC chez 400 patients traités dans un service d’oncologie au Maroc. Un questionnaire anonyme a été proposé aux patients en cours de traitement. Sur les 384 questionnaires analysables, 71 % des patients utilisent les MAC. La méthode la plus utilisée est la thérapie spirituelle (60 %) et l’utilisation des plantes médicinales (36 %). Les raisons d’utilisation des MAC sont de réduire la souffrance morale dans 53 % des cas et d’augmenter l’immunité dans 32 % des cas. Les effets indésirables de ces thérapies sont reportés dans 2 % des cas. Seulement 5 % des malades ont discuté des MAC avec leur médecin. Le coût des MAC est de moins de 100 euros dans 88 % des cas. Une communication médecin-malade est nécessaire pour optimiser la prise en charge face à ces traitements dont l’efficacité demeure encore non prouvée.

Abstract

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is very frequent in cancer patients. The aims of this study were to analyze the frequency, the reasons of use of CAM in patients with a cancer treated in a Moroccan oncology department. We included in this study 400 patients. An anonymous questionnaire was proposed to patients during treatment. Over 384 analyzable questionnaires, 71% of patients were using CAM. The most frequent method was religious therapy (60%). The second one was herbal medicine (36%). The main reason for using CAM was reducing psychic pain in 53%, and boosting the immune system in 32%. Adverse effects were reported in 2% of cases. Only 5% of patients discussed CAM with their doctors. The cost of CAM was less than 100 Euros in 88% of cases. To optimize the patient-physician relationship and to avoid a propensity to unproved treatments, accurate and adequate communication is necessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d’hématologie CHU Mohamed VI, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Maroc

    I. Tazi, H. Nafil, L. Mahmal & M. Harif

  2. Service d’oncologie-radiothérapie CHU Mohamed VI, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Maroc

    M. Khouchani, Z. Saadi, R. Belbaraka, A. Elomrani & A. Tahri

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  1. I. Tazi
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  2. H. Nafil
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Tazi, I., Nafil, H., Mahmal, L. et al. Les médecines alternatives et complémentaires chez les patients cancéreux en cours de traitement à Marrakech, Maroc : étude prospective. Bull. Soc. Pathol. Exot. 106, 278–285 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13149-013-0308-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13149-013-0308-7

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