Interest and use of alternative/holistic therapies amongst cancer patients at a large urban safety-net hospital.

Abstract

e18289 Background: Patient interest in alternative/holistic therapies during cancer treatment is common in oncology. Studies have shown that 1 in 3 cancer patients in Europe turn to alternative therapies in combination with conventional medicine. Observational studies have shown some benefit of herbal medications in treating chemotherapy-associated complications; however, there remains skepticism in clinical practice. This study was undertaken to evaluate the interest and use of alternative treatments amongst cancer patients at a large urban safety-net hospital. Methods: An anonymous optional survey was offered in a random fashion to malignant hematology/oncology patients at Cook County Hospital in downtown Chicago. Results: One hundred seventy patients completed the survey comprised of 51% men, 78% being over age 50, and 67% with a high school or higher level of education. Responses included 35% African Americans, 34% Hispanics, and 25% Caucasians. At the time of the survey 16% of patients were currently using alternative treatments, while another 12% were planning to. Eighty-seven percent stated that they believed alternative treatments were very/somewhat beneficial, 77% expressed being very/somewhat interested in their use, and 77% stated they were very/somewhat likely to use such treatments. The treatments of interest included herbal supplements/oils in 40%, meditation/prayer in 29%, and cleanses/diets in 26%. Media and internet were the primary sources of information for 41% patients, while 36% heard about these treatments from family/friends. Although 51% of patients described having some safety concerns of such therapies, 77% had not discussed with their doctor. Conclusions: Our data showed that 28% of patients were either already taking or planning to take alternative/holistic therapies in conjunction with conventional medicine for their cancer care. Data also shows that an even larger number of patients are interested in such options and perceive them to be beneficial; however, there is a general reluctance to discuss it with the treating physician. The use of complementary therapies needs to be more openly discussed in order to better guide patients and assure safety.[Table: see text]