Traditional Chinese medicine and CAM use among Chinese cancer patients in British Columbia, Canada: preliminary findings

Ferro MA¹, Leis A¹, Doll R², Barroetavena MC², Chiu L³, Chung M⁴

¹Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Health Science Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 5E5

²Sociobehavioural Research Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 200-601 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4C2

³School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5

⁴AMBER TCM Healing Centre, 104-2419 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7V 4T4

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)/CAM use in newly diagnosed Chinese cancer patients.

Materials and methods

A consecutive sample of Chinese cancer patients treated at the British Columbia Cancer Agency was surveyed at admission, using a 15-item questionnaire. Items included TCM/CAM use, socio-demographics and medical and cultural factors.

Results

Of the 130 respondents, 55% completed the survey in Chinese and 91% were first generation immigrants. The average age was 60. Patients had a mean disease duration of 2 months and 70% had already received at least one conventional treatment. Overall, TCM/CAM was used by 45% of respondents. However, for those defined as less acculturated (such as being born outside Canada) the prevalence was higher (54%). Herbal remedies, vitamins/minerals and prayer were the most commonly used therapies. In the bivariate analysis, factors associated with TCM/CAM use were prior TCM/CAM use (P<0.001), female sex (P=0.021), lower income (P=0.033), having received conventional treatment(s) (P=0.010), completing the survey in Chinese (P=0.037), reporting that they most frequently use a non-official language at home (P=0.032) and being less acculturated (P=0.025). Multivariate analysis showed that prior TCM/CAM use (P<0.001), lower income (P=0.031) and being less acculturated (P=0.019) were associated with TCM/CAM use.

Conclusion

Prevalence of use was found to vary as a function of the degree of acculturation to Canada. Healthcare practitioners would be well advised to discuss TCM/CAM use with their patients, especially those who are less acculturated to Western society, since they are the most likely users of TCM/CAM.

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research-sponsored Palliative Care in a Cross-cultural Context New Emerging Team and the Cancer Complementary & Alternative Medicine Research Team, funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society.

Top | Next: Paediatric outpatients’ use of CM»