SELF-CONCEPT OF FEMALE-PATIENTS USING UNCONVENTIONAL CANCER-THERAPY -POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

Background: Unconventional therapy has become increasingly popular in cancer patients. Apart from some factors such as age and education the re is little known about patients' conviction and motivation. Patients and Methods: 206 patients having attended the oncologic after-care ou t-patient department were asked to complete a questionnaire and return it anonymously by mail. Patients' self-concept and body image were as sessed with the help of the 'Frankfurter Selbstkonzeptskalen' (FSKN) a nd 'Frankfurter Korperkonzeptskalen' (FKKS), respectively, by Deusinge r (1986). Motivation and conviction were assessed with further questio ns known from the literature. Results: No statistically significant di fferences with respect to body image and self-concept have been found, although a trend was observed indicating that users have a higher abi lity to solve problems and to cope with difficulties. Further investig ations revealed that users have a different attitude to conventional t herapy and generally wish to play a more active part. Conclusion: Open -minded counselling of patients about unconventional therapy consideri ng patients' needs is necessary to avoid that patients will reject pos sibly curative or good palliative conventional therapy in cases of rec urrences.