Determinants of the Degree of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Patients with Cancer

Shumay, Dianne M.; Maskarinec, Gertraud; Gotay, Carolyn; Heiby, Elaine M.; Kakai, Hisako

doi:10.1089/107555302320825183

Cited by 85 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, some of these patients have described feeling "pushed" towards CAM as result of their beliefs about conventional cancer treatments being "toxic," "poisonous," or immunosuppressive 21,37 . Still others have turned toward CAM because of their dissatisfaction with conventional care, including the quality and quantity of their interactions with health professionals, the adverse effects of conventional treatment, and their experiences with ineffective therapies 16,35,37,44,45 . These latter patients are most at risk of abandoning conventional care in lieu of alternative treatments.…”

Section: 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectiveIn this paper, we set out to describe the personal and social contexts of treatment decisions made by cancer patients concerning complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and also the process through which cancer patients reach CAM decisions throughout the cancer trajectory. MethodsWe selected and reviewed a variety of CAM decisionmaking models published in the past 10 years within the Canadian health literature. ResultsThe CAM decision-making process is influenced by a variety of sociodemographic, disease-related, psychological, and social factors. We reviewed four main phases of the CAM decision-making process:• Taking stock of treatment options • Gathering and evaluating CAM information • Making CAM decisions • Revisiting the CAM decision Immediately following diagnosis, cancer patients become interested in taking stock of the full spectrum of conventional and CAM treatment options that may enhance the effectiveness of their treatment and mediate potential side effects. Information about CAM is then gathered from numerous information sources that vary in terms of credibility and scientific legitimacy, and is evaluated. When making a decision regarding CAM options, patients attempt to make sense of the diverse information obtained, while acknowledging their beliefs and values. The CAM decision is often revisited at key milestones, such as the end of conventional treatment and when additional information about disease, prognosis, and treatment is obtained. ConclusionsThe CAM decision-making process is a dynamic and iterative process that is influenced by a complex array of personal and social factors. Oncology health professionals need to be prepared to offer decision support related to CAM throughout the cancer trajectory.

show abstract

Section: 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Previous studies have explored only to a limited extent the prioritization of reasons that patients use in selecting IM. [13][14][15][16][17] Patients apparently combine conventional medical and CAM approaches rather than use one or the other exclusively, 18 without necessarily informing their physicians or CAM providers of the specific interventions that they use. This often results in a noncoordinated and independent default form of self-care, 19,20 which creates a relative "parallel practice" approach.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…16,[21][22][23][24][25] Yet, only 2 studies that focus on the outcomes associated with 2 IM practice models have been reported in the literature. Mulkins and Verhoef 26 described the healing experiences of 11 patients with cancer who received care in 3 different IM practices characterized as multidisciplinary.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients' Experiences and Perceptions of a Consultative Model Integrative Medicine Clinic: A Qualitative Study

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: A common theme in integrative medicine (IM) is patient-centered partnering in care between patients and providers. Despite the stated ideals, few studies have assessed patients' perspectives on their actual experience in the context of a specific care model. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively explore and compare experiences of cancer and noncancer patients under care in a consultative IM outpatient teaching clinic in the southwestern United States. Design: Qualitative study using inductive content analysis of focus group interview transcripts (2 groups of adult patients with cancers of various types and 1 group of chronically ill noncancer patients with mixed diagnoses). Method: Participants were recruited by random selection from a pool of eligible patients. Groups were conducted with patients who had completed their initial conventional cancer treatment and were at least 6 months postconsultation with an IM clinic physician. Transcripts of the audiotaped focus groups were analyzed. Results: Cancer patients (n = = 15) and noncancer patients (n = = 6) (mean age, 60 years; 77% women) expressed overall satisfaction with IM, emphasizing (1) expansion of treatment options with lower perceived toxicity than conventional therapies, (2) positive experiences of the IM physician as caring and taking time to listen, and (3) improved self-care skills and sense of empowerment. Cancer patients noted positive relationships with their conventional MDs more than did noncancer patients, although both groups appreciated the IM physicians' communication styles. Conclusion: Patients experience a consultative integrative clinic model overall as favorable. The impact on outcomes, costs, and long-term quality of life requires additional study.

show abstract

“…In the analysis of profi le of patients who used CAM, studies showed that they are adults aged between 30 and 59 years of age, 5,7,12,14,19,26,28,29,30,38,43 female, 11,20,26,27,30,41,43 with a high level of education 3,6,9,14,17,19,20,28,29 and high family income, 7,14,19,26,28,29,41 with advanced-staged cancer, 6,7,23,26,30,37,39,42 belonging to some religious group 20 and ethnically infl uenced 1,17,19,37 in relation to the alternative therapy adopted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,9,24,40,45 In relation to the psychological motivation, the promotion of well-being, control of stress and improvement of life quality were described. 2,5,6,9,14,23,27,46 The technical reasons for the use of CAM in the treatment of cancer are intimately connected to the dissatisfaction with conventional treatment, 1,8,12,36,37 especially concerning side effects and the interaction that is formed with health professionals, 33 besides the autonomous, humanizing process promoted by non-conventional practices.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uso de medicinas alternativas e complementares por pacientes com câncer: revisão sistemática

Spadacio

Barros

2008

Rev. Saúde Pública

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

O interesse no tema das medicinas alternativas e complementares tem aumentado, principalmente entre pacientes oncológicos. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura na base de dados PubMed sobre o perfil dos pacientes que optam pelo uso dessas medicinas e suas motivações. As palavras-chaves utilizadas na busca foram "cancer and complementary alternative medicine" e "oncology and complementary alternative medicine", no período 1995-2005. Os critérios de seleção foram: presença dos descritores no título dos artigos, idiomas português, inglês ou espanhol e terem sido realizados em população adulta. A partir de 43 artigos analisados, concluiu-se que a utilização de medicinas alternativas e complementares é parte do escopo social desses pacientes. Seu uso é importante na construção da identidade de pacientes com câncer, ajudando-os nas decisões em relação ao tratamento convencional.

show abstract

Determinants of the Degree of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Patients with Cancer

Abstract: This study is one of few studies exploring predictors for the quantity or degree of use of CAM by patients with cancer. Understanding factors related to these patients' heavier or lighter CAM use has implications for health care offerings and cancer treatment decision-making.

Cited by 85 publications

References 32 publications

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

Patient Decision-Making about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management: Context and Process

Patients' Experiences and Perceptions of a Consultative Model Integrative Medicine Clinic: A Qualitative Study

Uso de medicinas alternativas e complementares por pacientes com câncer: revisão sistemática

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About