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Cancer survivors with unmet needs were more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine

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Abstract

Purpose

Despite advancements in cancer care, cancer survivors continue to experience a substantial level of physical and emotional unmet needs (UMN). This study aims to determine the relationship between patients’ perceived UMN and their use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to help with cancer problems during and after treatment.

Methods

A mailed, cross-sectional survey was completed by 614 cancer survivors identified through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry 3.5 to 4 years from initial diagnosis. Relationships among UMN and CAM use along with clinical and socio-demographic factors were examined.

Results

Respondents who identified any UMN were 63% more likely to report CAM use than those without UMN (58% vs. 36%), p < 0.001. UMN remained the only independent predictor (adjusted odds ratio = 2.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.57–3.36, p < 0.001) of CAM use in a multivariate logistic regression model that included age, sex, marital status, education, previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Adjusted for covariates, UMN in domains of emotional, physical, nutritional, financial, informational, treatment-related, employment-related, and daily living activities were all related to CAM use, whereas UMN in transportation, home care, medical staff, family and spirituality were not related to CAM use. Patients who experienced multiple types of unmet needs were also more likely to use multiple types of CAM (p < 0.001 for model).

Conclusions

Cancer survivors who experienced unmet needs within the existing cancer treatment and support system were more likely to use CAM to help with cancer problems. Research is needed to determine if appropriate CAM use decreases unmet needs among cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgement

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. This study was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Dr. Mao was supported by a T32 training grant from NIH/NCCAM. The funding agencies had no role in the design or conduct of the study. Dr. Mao has full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Jun J. Mao, Joseph B. Straton, Peter F. Cronholm, Shimrit Keddem, Marjorie A. Bowman & Frances K. Barg

  2. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Jun J. Mao

  3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Steve C. Palmer & Kathryn Knott

  4. Abramson Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Jun J. Mao, Steve C. Palmer, Joseph B. Straton, Marjorie A. Bowman & Frances K. Barg

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  1. Jun J. Mao
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  2. Steve C. Palmer
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Correspondence to Jun J. Mao.

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Mao, J.J., Palmer, S.C., Straton, J.B. et al. Cancer survivors with unmet needs were more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine. J Cancer Surviv 2, 116–124 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-008-0052-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-008-0052-3

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