Homeopathic products are available over the counter in many pharmacies in the United States and are popular among consumers, although there is no conclusive evidence of their therapeutic effects. Pharmacists are obligated to provide well-informed, evidence-based information on these products, but many graduates may not be receiving adequate training in this area. This report outlines the results of a survey assessing whether taking a focused elective course in complementary and integrative health (CIH) affects knowledge and perceptions regarding homeopathy. A 22-question survey was developed and distributed to graduates of Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. Responses on survey items were compared between those who had reported taking the CIH elective course and those who had not. Of the 475 pharmacists, 89 completed the survey (response rate of 18.7%). Pharmacists who had taken the CIH elective course reported being more comfortable answering patient questions (82% vs. 44%, p < 0.001), felt more able to make recommendations (75% vs. 36%, p < 0.001), and felt they could explain the proposed mechanism of action of homeopathic remedies to their patients (87% vs. 61%, p = 0.002). Those who took the elective course were also more likely to say that any benefits of homeopathy were due to the placebo effect (82% vs. 64%, p = 0.007). A significantly higher portion of respondents who had not taken the elective course indicated that they could benefit from further training on CIH topics when compared with those who had taken the elective course (85% vs. 51%, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to their use of reliable resources (e.g., PubMed and Natural Medicines) vs. unreliable sources (other internet searches or personal anecdotes) when addressing CIH-related questions. These findings indicate that pharmacists with more focused training in CIH are more comfortable, confident, and knowledgeable when discussing homeopathy. Such education should be provided more broadly to students in colleges of pharmacy.

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Pharmacist Knowledge and Perceptions of Homeopathy: A Survey of Recent Pharmacy Graduates in Practice

Contexte&#160;: Les diarrh&#233;es se rencontrent tr&#232;s souvent en cas de cancer du pancr&#233;as, que ce soit de fa&#231;on &#233;pisodique apr&#232;s certaines chimioth&#233;rapies ou de fa&#231;on chronique apr&#232;s la chirurgie. Elles diminuent la qualit&#233; de vie, favorisent l&#8217;amaigrissement et perturbent le bon d&#233;roulement des chimioth&#233;rapies. D&#233;nu&#233;e d&#8217;effets secondaires notables et d&#8217;interactions m&#233;dicamenteuses, l&#8217;hom&#233;opathie est en Europe, la m&#233;decine compl&#233;mentaire la plus utilis&#233;e en oncologie int&#233;grative. Il n&#8217;existe pas &#171;&#160;un&#160;&#187; m&#233;dicament hom&#233;opathique sp&#233;cifique des diarrh&#233;es mais plusieurs m&#233;dicaments candidats. Comment d&#233;terminer celui qui sera le mieux indiqu&#233;&#160;? M&#233;thodologie&#160;: Les auteurs ont &#233;tudi&#233; la physiopathologie des diarrh&#233;es dans les suites de pancr&#233;atectomie, recherch&#233; les sympt&#244;mes pr&#233;sents chez tous les patients, effectu&#233; une r&#233;pertorisation &#233;lectronique, s&#233;lectionn&#233; les m&#233;dicaments candidats, analys&#233; leur mati&#232;re m&#233;dicale et construit un algorithme d&#233;cisionnel. R&#233;sultats&#160;: Les sympt&#244;mes retenus ont &#233;t&#233;&#160;: la sensation de selles imp&#233;rieuses, les borborygmes intestinaux, la pr&#233;dominance des diarrh&#233;es en journ&#233;e, leur apparition apr&#232;s avoir mang&#233; ou bu, la perte de poids. font partie des 6 m&#233;dicaments principaux. Au total, 16 m&#233;dicaments ont &#233;t&#233; analys&#233;s puis int&#233;gr&#233;s dans un algorithme d&#8217;aide &#224; la d&#233;cision. Conclusion&#160;:Il n&#8217;existe pas de traitement &#171;&#160;type&#160;&#187; de la diarrh&#233;e en oncologie. L&#8217;hom&#233;opathie pour &#234;tre efficace doit &#234;tre individualis&#233;e. Elle doit r&#233;pondre aux r&#232;gles habituelles de similitude, d&#8217;individualisation et d&#8217;infinit&#233;simalit&#233;. La consultation de l&#8217;algorithme d&#233;cisionnel permet d&#8217;orienter rapidement le prescripteur vers un ou plusieurs m&#233;dicaments possibles. Si n&#233;cessaire, la mati&#232;re m&#233;dicale permettra de pr&#233;ciser le ou les choix th&#233;rapeutiques. Cet algorithme n&#233;cessite maintenant d&#8217;&#234;tre exp&#233;riment&#233; et valid&#233; par la pratique et les essais cliniques. 

Traitement homéopathique des diarrhées chroniques non stéatosiques après pancréatectomie totale ou partielle. 2.Elaboration et utilisation d’un algorithme d’aide à la prescription pour les diarrhées en oncologie

Le premier hôpital de jour français de soins intégratifs en oncologie au Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Vincent de Strasbourg. Mode de fonctionnement et résultats thérapeutiques préliminaires

The first French Outpatient hospital for integrative oncology care at the Saint-Vincent Hospital Group in Strasbourg. Organisation and preliminary therapeutic results

De la nécessité de rembourser l’homéopathie dans les affections de longue durée : exemple des soins de support oncologiques

In France, homeopathy is the most frequently used complementary therapy in supportive care in oncology (SCO); its use is steadily increasing. However, data is limited about the perception and relevance of homeopathy by oncologists and general practitioners (GPs) both with and without homeopathic training (HGPs and NHGPs, respectively). Our aim was to evaluate French physicians’ perceptions of homeopathy to clarify its place in SCO through two original observation survey-based studies. Two cross-sectional surveys of French physicians were conducted involving (1) 150 specialist oncologists; (2) 97 HGPs and 100 NHGPs. Questions evaluated physician attitudes to homeopathy and patterns of use of homeopathic therapies in patients requiring SCO. Survey responses were described and analyzed on the basis of physician status. Ten percent of oncologists stated they prescribe homeopathy; 36% recommend it; 54% think that homeopathy is potentially helpful in SCO. Two-thirds of the NHGPs sometimes prescribe homeopathy in the context of SCO and 58% regularly refer their patients to homeopathic doctors. HGPs have a positive perception of homeopathy in SCO. Homeopathy is viewed favorably as an integrated SCO therapy by the majority of French physicians involved with cancer patients—oncologists and GPs. Symptoms of particular relevance include fatigue, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, sleep disturbance, and hot flashes. In such clinical situations, response to conventional therapies may be suboptimal and homeopathy is considered a reliable therapeutic option. These two studies highlight the fact that homeopathy has gained legitimacy as the first complementary therapy in SCO in France.

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J L Bagot

Papers

Perceptions of homeopathy in supportive cancer care among oncologists and general practitioners in France