Complementary/alternative medicine use in a comprehensive cancer center and the implications for oncology

Citation
Ma. Richardson et al., Complementary/alternative medicine use in a comprehensive cancer center and the implications for oncology, J CL ONCOL, 18(13), 2000, pp. 2505-2514
Citations number
63
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology,"Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
0732183X → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
13
Year of publication
2000
Pages
2505 - 2514
Database
ISI
SICI code
0732-183X(200007)18:13<2505:CMUIAC>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
Purpose: Oncologists are aware that their patients use complementary/altern ative medicine (CAM). As cancer incidence rates and survival time increase, use of CAM will likely increase. This study assessed the prevalence and pr edictors of CAM use in a comprehensive cancer center. Subjects and Methods: Subjects were English-speaking cancer patients at lea st 18 years of age, attending one of eight outpatient clinics at The Univer sity of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, between December 19 97 and June 1998. After giving written informed consent, participants compl eted a self-administered questionnaire. Differences between CAM users and n onusers were assessed by chi(2) and univariate logistic regression analysis . A multivariate logistic regression model identified the simultaneous impa ct of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables on CAM use; P values w ere two-sided. Results: Of the 453 participants (response rate, 51.4%), 99.3% had heard of CAM. Of those, 83.3% had used at least one CAM approach. Use was greatest for spiritual practices (80.5%), vitamins and herbs (62.6%), and movement a nd physical therapies (59.2%) and predicted (P <.001) by sex (female), youn ger age, indigent pay status, and surgery, After excluding spiritual practi ses and psychotherapy, 95.8% of participants were aware of CAM and 68.7% of those had used CAM. Use was predicted (P <.0001) by sex (female), educatio n, and chemotherapy. Conclusion: In most categories, CAM use was common among outpatients. Given the number of patients combining vitamins and herbs with conventional trea tments, the oncology community must improve patient-provider communication, offer reliable information to patients, and initiate research to determine possible drug-herb-vitamin interactions. J Clin Oncol 18:2505-2514. (C) 20 00 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.