Predictors and Characteristics Associated with use of Complementary Health Approaches among Cancer Patients

Abstract

Complementary health approach use is growing over the past 15 years among cancer patients, either in Western countries or in the Far East or in developing countries. So it has undoubtedly gained medical, economic and research importance. Aim: to assess use, predictors and characteristics associated with use of complementary health approaches among patients with cancer. Research design: a descriptive exploratory research design will be utilized. Setting: the study was conducted in the Oncology and Nuclear medicine department affiliated to one of the University Hospital, Cairo-Egypt. Subjects: a convenient sample of 150 adult male and female cancer patients who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria enrolled in the study. Tool: a 21-items questionnaire covering patient demographics features (6items), treatment-related variables (4items), characteristics and predictors of complementary health approach (11items) was used. Results: (67.3%) of the study sample used complementary health approaches in association with the conventional treatment of cancer, the most frequent used types of complementary health approach were herbal products, massage, and meditation. Characteristics of complementary health approach users were young age, male patients, those with decreased activity of daily living and patients with genitourinary and blood cancer; predictors of complementary health approach use were young age (18-30) (OR4.9 and p=0.010), decreased activity of daily living (OR .346 and p=0.033).Conclusion: patients living with cancer may be actively using a variety of complementary health approaches while also undergoing conventional cancer treatments.

Keywords: predictors, characteristics, use, complementary health approaches, cancer patients.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/58-12