Complementary and alternative medicine use in oncology: A questionnaire survey of patients and health care professionals

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among cancer patients and non-cancer volunteers, and to assess the knowledge of and attitudes toward CAM use in oncology among health care professionals.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted in a single institution in Ireland. Survey was performed in outpatient and inpatient settings involving cancer patients and non-cancer volunteers. Clinicians and allied health care professionals were asked to complete a different questionnaire.ResultsIn 676 participants including 219 cancer patients; 301 non-cancer volunteers and 156 health care professionals, the overall prevalence of CAM use was 32.5% (29.1%, 30.9% and 39.7% respectively in the three study cohorts). Female gender (p < 0.001), younger age (p = 0.004), higher educational background (p < 0.001), higher annual household income (p = 0.001), private health insurance (p = 0.001) and non-Christian (p < 0.001) were factors associated with more likely CAM use. Multivariate analysis identified female gender (p < 0.001), non-Christian (p = 0.001) and private health insurance (p = 0.015) as independent predictors of CAM use. Most health care professionals thought they did not have adequate knowledge (58.8%) nor were up to date with the best evidence (79.2%) on CAM use in oncology. Health care professionals who used CAM were more likely to recommend it to patients (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a similarly high prevalence of CAM use among oncology health care professionals, cancer and non cancer patients. Patients are more likely to disclose CAM usage if they are specifically asked. Health care professionals are interested to learn more about various CAM therapies and have poor evidence-based knowledge on specific oncology treatments. There is a need for further training to meet to the escalation of CAM use among patients and to raise awareness of potential benefits and risks associated with these therapies.

Reiki Complementary Therapy In Nursing Practice

“…Among the healthcare professionals who had participated in the study, nurses were those who granted less importance to the knowledge of NCT. As far as Reiki is http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2017.06.11 Corresponding Author: Rosa Martins Selection and peer-review under This study is in agreement with the one conducted by Chang et al (2011) that indicated that 58.8% of healthcare professionals confess that they didn't have the proper knowledge and that 79.2% of them are not aware of the relevance of the use of NCT in oncological units. Brown et al (2007) had found out that the healthcare professionals who had participated in his study had limited knowledge and little experience with NCT, thus feeling unprepared to talk with their patients about these therapies.…”

“…Chang et al (2011), for instance, tell us that 80% of the pharmacists, 49.2% of the nurses, 37.0% of the physiotherapists and 28.8% of the doctors who had participated in the study had already sought NCT treatments. These researchers gathered in the same study oncological patients, volunteers who didn't suffer from any oncological disease and healthcare workers (who were involved in the treatment of patients who were suffering from cancer) and found values of prevalence in the adherence to NCT (29.1%,30.9% and 39.7 %respectively) in which the healthcare workers show higher values than the users/patients.…”

Perspectives of Medical Oncologists regarding Music Therapy for Patients with Cancer in Turkey - Can Musicology be Integrated into Psycho-oncology?

“…And also same results are taken from pediatric intensive care patients, chronic other patients, hospice patients and their health professionals, too (Demmer and Sauer, 2002;Bouhairie et al, 2006;Mathur et al, 2008;Loewy et al, 2013). Chang et al (2011) research complementary and alternative medicines in patients, healthy people and health professionals via a survey and this cohort study shows us that music therapy is not preferable very much. Only 8% of participants refer music therapy in this study and more referable ones are more popular and expensive methods like natural supplements, green tea, massage, herbal remedies (Chang et al, 2011).…”

“…Chang et al (2011) research complementary and alternative medicines in patients, healthy people and health professionals via a survey and this cohort study shows us that music therapy is not preferable very much. Only 8% of participants refer music therapy in this study and more referable ones are more popular and expensive methods like natural supplements, green tea, massage, herbal remedies (Chang et al, 2011).…”

Assessing the Quality of Websites Relating to Complementary and Integrative Health: A Review of Five Domains (Preprint)

“…For example, it has been reported that media coverage of CAM is inconsistent [29], and studies have argued for the need for increased awareness about potential harms and benefits [55]. Thus, we also investigated the extent to which harms and benefits were reported.…”