Abstract
ObjectiveThe research examined complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information-seeking behaviors and preferences from short- to long-term cancer survival, including goals, motivations, and information sources.MethodsA mixed-methods approach was used with cancer survivors from the “Assessment of Patients’ Experience with Cancer Care” 2004 cohort. Data collection included a mail survey and phone interviews using the critical incident technique (CIT).ResultsSeventy survivors from the 2004 study responded to the survey, and eight participated in the CIT interviews. Quantitative results showed that CAM usage did not change significantly between 2004 and 2015. The following themes emerged from the CIT: families’ and friends’ provision of the initial introduction to a CAM, use of CAM to manage the emotional and psychological impact of cancer, utilization of trained CAM practitioners, and online resources as a prominent source for CAM information. The majority of participants expressed an interest in an online information-sharing portal for CAM.ConclusionPatients continue to use CAM well into long-term cancer survivorship. Finding trustworthy sources for information on CAM presents many challenges such as reliability of source, conflicting information on efficacy, and unknown interactions with conventional medications. Study participants expressed interest in an online portal to meet these needs through patient testimonials and linkage of claims to the scientific literature. Such a portal could also aid medical librarians and clinicians in locating and evaluating CAM information on behalf of patients.
Highlights
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to health care systems and products that are not commonly used in conventional medicine [1]
We looked at whether CAM use changed over time, what patients’ goals for CAM use were, where they found information, how they evaluated that information, and what their preferences were for a hypothetical CAM portal
Our study was guided by a theoretical framework composed of two theories: “Uses and Gratification Theory” (UGT) [21] and the “Health Belief Model” (HBM) [22]
Summary
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to health care systems and products that are not commonly used in conventional medicine [1]. The use of CAM therapies by cancer patients is well documented, with current usage rates as high as 50% in the United States [2,3,4,5]. When faced with a cancer diagnosis, many patients seek further information on CAM as a means of understanding their options, for a sense of hope and control, and for alternative options when the prognosis is poor [8, 9]. In this process, patients often become frustrated with what they find, when they receive conflicting messages. Authoritative information resources and tools are needed to help patients identify and understand CAM options
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