Racial differences in interest and use of integrative medicine among patients with breast cancer.

Abstract

12101 Background: Breast cancer treatment can be associated with side effects (SEs) that negatively impact quality of life. While some SEs can be treated with medications, such interventions come with additional SEs. Acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy and yoga have received ASCO endorsement for the management of therapy-related SEs. Many patients are interested in integrative services, but little is known about racial differences in interest and use of integrative services among patients with breast cancer. Methods: Breast cancer patients enrolled in the Chicago Multiethnic Epidemiologic Cohort study were sent a survey regarding their interest and use of five integrative services: acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy and yoga. Participants were asked how interested they would be in these services if offered, using a five-point Likert scale. Prior use was self-reported. Proportional odds were modeled for “interest” and binary logistic regression was modeled for “self-reported use.” Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, controlling for age, education, marital status, household income, insurance, Carlson comorbidity index, molecular subtype and stage. Results: 1,300 patients responded to the survey, 928 White and 285 Black. Compared with White patients in this cohort, Black patients were less educated, had a lower household income, were more likely enrolled in Medicaid/Medicare, and had a greater Carlson comorbidity index. Over 97% of patients had stage 0-III breast cancer. While there was no difference in interest in acupuncture between Black and White patients (aOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.7), Black patients were significantly more interested in the use of massage (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8), meditation (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-3.0), music therapy (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8-4.0) and yoga (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1). Black patients were significantly less likely than Whites to report acupuncture use (aOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8); but there were no racial differences in self-reported use of massage (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.3), meditation (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5-1.4), music therapy (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 0.8-3.3) and yoga (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.2). Conclusions: Black patients with breast cancer expressed more interest in integrative services than their White counterparts; there were no racial differences in self-reported use of integrative services except an increased use of acupuncture among White patients. A breast program focused on equity should provide access to these resources for all patients. Interest and self-reported use of integrative services among patients with breast cancer, by race. [Table: see text]