Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 32–3
This study was funded by the Department of Health to generate new understanding about the ways in which patients with cancer use CAM as an adjunct to their conventional cancer treatment and to identify the perceived value or otherwise of using CAM.
A survey of 304 recently diagnosed patients attending two cancer centres was conducted over a 3-month period to determine CAM use before and since diagnosis. The patients sampled represented a true generalisable reflection of cancer (site) incidence in the community. A subsample of 40 patients participated in semistructured interviews.
CAM use before diagnosis was reported by 33% of patients. Following diagnosis, CAM use was reported by 28% of patients. Of the 100 CAM users before cancer diagnosis, 57 had also used CAM since their diagnosis. Twenty-nine CAM users since diagnosis had not used CAM before. Patients who used CAM were more likely to be younger (P < 0.001 for trend) and female (P < 0.001), with a higher educational level (P < 0.003 for trend). Forty-five per cent of CAM users since diagnosis had breast cancer, compared with only 17% of non-CAM users. Almost all CAM users since diagnosis found CAM helpful and no-one reported that it was unhelpful. There were no apparent differences in CAM use according to socio-demographic characteristics or recruitment clinic. The pattern of CAM use reported by patients varied considerably. Data indicate that there may be important factors over and above individual beliefs and motivations influencing CAM use.
This study is the first to reveal how CAM use may alter following a diagnosis of cancer. Factors such as the clinical team, the availability of CAM within cancer treatment settings, and information about CAM and safety considerations may be important influences on CAM use among patients undergoing cancer treatment.
