Our Research:

Aim - To conduct a qualitative synthesis using the technique of meta-ethnography in order to provide an up to date, comprehensive and coherent overview our current state of knowledge and understanding. We will address the question; why do people with cancer seek CAM treatments and what benefits and problems do they experience?
Objectives

1. Carry out a wide-ranging and systematic literature search and select eligible papers.
2. Carry out a quality appraisal of each paper, using the shortened version of the CASP criteria.
3. Conduct a synthesis of these papers using meta-ethnography.
4. Develop an explanatory model for CAM use in cancer patients.
5. Make this information available to different audiences, including service providers, researchers and a lay audience.
6. Use the findings to inform the development of patient-centred outcome questionnaires for use in quantitative studies of complementary therapies for people with cancer.
7. Present the findings in ways that can be used to inform service development for people with cancer

Objective The study aimed to assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a representative cancer population prior to and within six months of diagnosis.

Design Newly diagnosed cancer patients from two UK cancer centres, completed a postal survey about their CAM use prior to and since diagnosis. The sampling framework was purposive and based on national statistics relating to the UK incidence of cancers arising from different sites

Results Three hundred and four newly diagnosed patients completed a postal survey. (51% response). 100 patients (32.9%) used CAM before their cancer diagnosis and 59 of these CAM users continued post diagnosis. Twenty-nine individuals who had not used CAM before began to use it after their cancer diagnosis, creating a total of 88 (28.9%) CAM users in this sample.  Reasons for not using CAM included lack interest, lack of information, lack of endorsement from professionals and satisfaction with conventional care. For those using CAM before diagnosis but not afterwards the most common reason was a lack of expert guidance on what was safe to use. Predictive factors for pre-cancer use were gender (female) and a higher level of education.  Predictors for use after diagnosis included previous use, gender, higher educational level, employment and early stage disease.  The most common therapies after diagnosis were aromatherapy massage and reflexology, both of which were available at both the cancer centres. Forty-five percent of post diagnostic users bought OTC medicines with 75% of these purchases being from outlets where medical advice would not be available. Only one third of the patients informed their consultant of their CAM use.

Conclusion CAM use in cancer patients is common and demonstrates a complex pattern but CAM use post diagnosis is not significantly greater than in the general population.  Some patients purchase OTC medicines without seeking medical advice thus risking drug interactions.  Research to generate information on safety and efficacy of CAM is required for both patients and health professionals.