Cancer Research and Treatment

Special Article

Behaviors and Attitudes toward the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Korean Cancer Patients: Jung Hye Kwon, Sang-Cheol Lee, Myung Ah Lee, Yu Jung Kim, Jung Hun Kang, Jin Young Kim, Hyo Jin Lee, Woo Kyun Bae, Mi-Jung Kim, Eui Kyu Chie, Jin Kim, Yeul Hong Kim, Hyun Cheol Chung, Sun Young Rha; Cancer Res Treat. 2019;51(3):851-860. Published online June 7, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2019.137

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Purpose
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the current awareness and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as well as attitudes toward CAM, in patients with cancer and their family members in South Korea.
Materials and Methods
Between September 21 and October 31, 2017, a 25-item questionnaire regarding CAM experiences among cancer patients and their family members was conducted in 10 oncology clinics in South Korea after institutional review board approval at each institution.
Results
In total, 283/310 patients were analyzed. The median age was 60 years, and 60% were male. Most of the patients were actively receiving anticancer treatment at the time of the survey. A total of 106 patients (37%) had experienced a median of two types (interquartile range, 1 to 3) of CAM. Belief in CAM (odds ratio [OR], 3.015; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.611 to 5.640) and duration of disease (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.004 to 1.020) were independent factors for using CAM in multivariable analysis. Belief in CAM was significantly associated with current use of CAM (OR, 3.633; 95% CI, 1.567 to 8.424). Lay referral was the most common reason for deciding to use CAM, and only 25% of patients (72/283) discussed CAM with their physicians.
Conclusion
Patient attitudes toward and confidence in CAM modalities were strongly associated with their CAM experiences, and only a small number of patients had an open discussion about CAM with their physicians. A patient education program for CAM is needed.

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Original Article

General

Status of Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Patients with Cancer in Korea: an Online Survey of Online Cancer Support Groups (KCSG PC21-20): Jung Sun Kim, Jung Hye Kwon, Sun Young Rha, Sang-Cheol Lee, Yoon Jung Chang, In-Sun Kwon, Kyung Han You, Ho Young Yoon; Cancer Res Treat. 2023;55(2):442-451.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2022.1483

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Purpose
An increasing number of patients with cancers are interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which lacks scientific evidence. This study aimed to determine how CAM was used and how media affected patients in online cancer support groups (OCSG).
Materials and Methods
Between August 18 and September 12, 2021, an online survey was conducted among the members of OCSG. The survey consisted of five parts: baseline characteristics, attitudes toward and experience with CAM, source of information and reliabilities, experience with anthelmintics, and online health information literacy and usage.
Results
Among the 644 responders, a total of 221 patients with cancer completed the survey, and 78.2% (173/221) used CAM. The users’ median age was 52 years; 46.8% were males, and 43.9% had metastatic disease. Fifty-three CAM users (30.6%) discussed their physicians about CAM. In addition, 16.2% (28/173) of CAM users had the experience of anthelmintics. The use of anthelmintics in patients with cancers was associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.95), metastatic disease (OR, 10.88; 95% CI, 3.39 to 34.86), previous exposure to CAM information (OR, 5.57; 95% CI, 1.01 to 30.72), experience with more types of CAM (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.05), and side effects (OR, 5.10; 95% CI 1.46 to 17.75).
Conclusion
Use of anthelmintics, a CAM of which information is widespread online, is affected by several factors. This study will provide essential information for developing a CAM management strategy in this digital age.

Citations

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Collegian.2023; 30(5): 668. CrossRef

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