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Behaviors and Attitudes toward the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Korean Cancer Patients
- Source :
- Cancer Research and Treatment : Official Journal of Korean Cancer Association
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Korean Cancer Association, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Purpose A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the current awareness and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as well as attitudes toward CAM, in patients with cancer and their family members in South Korea. Materials and methods Between September 21 and October 31, 2017, a 25-item questionnaire regarding CAM experiences among cancer patients and their family members was conducted in 10 oncology clinics in South Korea after institutional review board approval at each institution. Results In total, 283/310 patients were analyzed. The median age was 60 years, and 60% were male. Most of the patients were actively receiving anticancer treatment at the time of the survey. A total of 106 patients (37%) had experienced a median of two types (interquartile range, 1 to 3) of CAM. Belief in CAM (odds ratio [OR], 3.015; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.611 to 5.640) and duration of disease (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.004 to 1.020) were independent factors for using CAM in multivariable analysis. Belief in CAM was significantly associated with current use of CAM (OR, 3.633; 95% CI, 1.567 to 8.424). Lay referral was the most common reason for deciding to use CAM, and only 25% of patients (72/283) discussed CAM with their physicians. Conclusion Patient attitudes toward and confidence in CAM modalities were strongly associated with their CAM experiences, and only a small number of patients had an open discussion about CAM with their physicians. A patient education program for CAM is needed.
- Subjects :
- Complementary Therapies
Male
0301 basic medicine
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Cancer Research
medicine.medical_specialty
animal structures
Patients
Referral
Cross-sectional study
Alternative medicine
Special Article
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Patient Education as Topic
Interquartile range
Neoplasms
Surveys and Questionnaires
Republic of Korea
Humans
Medicine
Aged
business.industry
Odds ratio
Middle Aged
Institutional review board
Confidence interval
Cross-Sectional Studies
030104 developmental biology
Caregivers
Complementary and alternative medicine
Oncology
Attitudes
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Family medicine
Female
business
Patient education
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 20059256 and 15982998
- Volume :
- 51
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Cancer Research and Treatment
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cdf5eb0a20e00b6a3f9fc7f7f2e11c26