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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients with Cancer Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy in Taiwan.

Yang C, Chien LY, Tai CJ

Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) used among patients with cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy in Taiwan. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The study participants were 160 patients with cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Results: The vast majority of the participants reported CAM use (n = 157, 98.1%). The two most common groups of CAM used were "biologically based therapies" (77.5%) and "mind-body interventions" (60.6%). Fifteen percent (15.3%) of patients took grapeseed and ginseng, which might affect the efficacy of some chemotherapy regimens. Fourteen percent (14.4%) of patients did not know the name of the herbs they took. The most commonly reported reasons for CAM use were to boost the immune system (55.4%) and relieve stress (53.5%). Approximately two thirds of patients (66.2%) had never informed their physicians of CAM use.

Published 25 April 2008 in J Altern Complement Med.
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