Alternative methods of treatment used by multiple sclerosis patients in Poland.

Background and Purpose: Despite the great progress that has been made in medicine, treatment of many chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), remains hardly effective. It has been reported that more and more MS patients worldwide are using alternative methods (AM). The aim of the present study is to evaluate this phenomenon in the Polish MS population.
Materials and Methods: To obtain more data about use of AM in Poland we distributed questionnaires among 210 MS patients treated in 3 hospitals in different regions of our country: Warsaw, Gdansk and Pila.
Results: 210 patients (136 females and 74 males) took part in the study. 68.5% (144 of 210 questioned) declared use of AM now or in the past. The most popular (56%) was Oenothera seed oil, followed by vitamins (49%), and the third most common was massage (34%). There were no significant demographic differences between users and non-users. Neither disease duration nor disability had any impact on the decision to use AM.
Conclusions: The phenomenon of use of AM by MS patients is not fully understood, but it seems that limited access to so-called immunomodulators, e.g. interferon-b or glatiramer acetate, and limited long-term efficacy are reasons why patients seek other therapies.