Patient Decision-Making About Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Management
Author Information
Author(s): Lynda G. Balneaves, Weeks L., Seely D.
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
The study aims to describe the personal and social contexts of treatment decisions made by cancer patients concerning complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Conclusion
The CAM decision-making process is dynamic and influenced by a complex array of personal and social factors.
Supporting Evidence
- The CAM decision-making process is influenced by sociodemographic, disease-related, psychological, and social factors.
- Patients often revisit their CAM decisions at key milestones in their cancer journey.
- Many cancer patients use CAM at some point during their illness.
Takeaway
Cancer patients think a lot about whether to use alternative treatments, and their decisions are affected by many personal and social factors.
Methodology
The study reviewed various CAM decision-making models published in the past 10 years within Canadian health literature.
Limitations
The models reviewed have been limited mainly to breast and prostate cancer and have yet to be empirically tested.
Participant Demographics
The study discusses factors such as age, sex, and socio-economic status that influence CAM use among cancer patients.
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