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
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.