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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
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The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma
Published on: April 16, 2019
Complementary therapy use in patients with glioma: an observational study
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany. heese@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Neurology
|December 22, 2010
Summary
Forty percent of glioma patients use complementary therapies, often younger, female, and highly educated individuals. Patients seek these therapies to supplement standard care, not due to dissatisfaction with neuro-oncologists.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Patient-reported outcomes
Background:
- Glial tumors remain largely incurable despite advanced treatments.
- Patients often seek complementary therapies to aid disease management or alleviate symptoms.
- Data on the prevalence, motivations, and costs of complementary therapy use in glioma patients is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of complementary therapy use among patients with glial tumors.
- To understand the patients' rationale for using complementary therapies.
- To assess the cost associated with complementary therapies for gliomas.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study involving 621 patients with WHO grades II-IV glial tumors.
- Patients were recruited from six neuro-oncologic centers in Germany.
- Complementary therapy was defined as non-standard, unevaluated methods or compounds.
Main Results:
- Forty percent of surveyed patients reported using complementary therapies.
- Complementary therapy users were significantly younger, more often female, and had higher education levels than non-users.
- Motivations centered on augmenting standard care, not dissatisfaction with clinical treatment.
Conclusions:
- Patient use of complementary therapies in clinical practice is frequently underestimated.
- The primary driver for complementary therapy use is not a lack of trust in conventional treatments.
- Neuro-oncologists should proactively engage in open, critical discussions about complementary therapies with patients.
