J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  2007 Aug;19(3):447-458.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and its Affecting Factors in Women with Breast Cancer

• Suh YO

Abstract

PURPOSE: This exploratory study was to identify the use of complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) in women with breast cancer and to analyze which factor influence CAM use.
METHODS
114 patients with breast cancer were identified and approached. The instrument used to gather data were the common types, main reasons and effects as well as stress, mood states and fatigue.
RESULTS
42.7% of all participants reported the use of CAM. The most common types of CAM used were Phellinus linteus, elm tree, and vitamin C. The main reasons for CAM use were to boost the immune system and to prevent recurrence. Prayer, massage, Shitake mushroom, and Ganoderma lucidum were, identified as being more effective than others. 93.6% of the respondents informed their physicians of their use of CAM. Logistic regression analysis determined that stress, mood states, and duration after diagnosis were factors significantly associated with CAM use.
CONCLUSION
CAM use is increasing among patients with breast cancer. Health care professionals are in the main position to identify what treatments patients are using and implement CAM therapies that can be helpful to relieve patient symptoms related to treatment and psychological distress.

Keyword

Breast cancer; Complementary and alternative medicine; Stress; Affect; Fatigue

MeSH Terms

Agaricales
Ascorbic Acid
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Complementary Therapies*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Delivery of Health Care
Diagnosis
Fatigue
Female
Humans
Immune System
Logistic Models
Massage
Recurrence
Reishi
Religion
Ulmus
Ascorbic Acid