Complementary and alternative medicine among Singapore cancer patients
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
; : 129-135, 2010.
Article
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| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-253614
Biblioteca responsable:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study evaluates determinants, expectations, association with quality of life (QOL) and doctor's awareness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in Singapore cancer patients.</p><p><b>MATERIAL AND METHODS</b>We interviewed 316 patients visiting the Cancer Centre of the National University Hospital on behaviour, attitudes and expectations towards CAM and assessed QOL via Euroqol Questionnaire (EQ-5D). Medical information was obtained from oncologists.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and seventy-three patients (55%) reported CAM use after cancer diagnosis. Chinese ethnicity, tertiary education, age <65 years and previous CAM use were independent predictors of CAM use. Fifty-one per cent of CAM users informed their doctors about their use and 15% of doctors reported to be aware of CAM use in these patients. Thirty-seven per cent believed CAM to be equally or more effective than conventional cancer therapies and 78% expected at least basic knowledge about CAM from their oncologists. Twenty-fi ve per cent of patients reported concurrent use of oral CAM and chemotherapy, of which oncologists were unaware in 86% of cases. CAM users had higher EuroQol utility scores than non-CAM users (0.79 versus 0.73, respectively, P = 0.03), in particularly those aged >or=65 years and those with stage IV disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Singapore cancer patients show high prevalence of CAM use, high expectations regarding its effectiveness and doctors' knowledge on CAM and many use it concurrently with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Since oncologists are generally unaware of CAM use in their patients, doctor-patient communication on CAM use needs to be improved. The association of CAM use and higher QOL scores in some subgroups deserves further exploration.</p>
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Índice:
WPRIM
Asunto principal:
Calidad de Vida
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Singapur
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Terapéutica
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Terapias Complementarias
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Entrevistas como Asunto
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Encuestas y Cuestionarios
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Neoplasias
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
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Qualitative_research
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article