Positive Health Online

Abstract

COSS and colleagues, Sutter Wellness and Healing Network, Sutter Cancer Center, Sacramento CA 95816 USA conducted a telephone survey of its cancer patients in 1994. The primary objective of this survey was: 1) to determine the perceptions and attitudes of patients regarding alternative care providers; 2) to determine whether the Sutter Center should provide support for these therapies for its patients.

Background

Methodology

The 95-item telephone survey of cancer patients was conducted using an independent professional research firm. A random sample of 503 adult patients completed the 15-minute telephone survey between 27 January and 8 Mary 1994. There were more women than men included in the sample (62% versus 38%, respectively); the patients, all of whom had been treated for cancer at the Center within the past 2 years, ranged from 18 to 88 years. The survey questions included topics including cancer diagnosis, awareness of alternative therapies, attitude toward alternative therapies, perception of oncologists' attitude toward alternative therapies . The analysis of the survey results contained both a descriptive and comparative analysis.

Results

From the 503 respondents, 82 (16%) had considered using alternative therapies for cancer following diagnosis. The majority of respondents were moderately familiar with alternative therapy, including nutrition therapy (59%), herbal therapy (63%) and acupuncture (62%). Only 6% of respondents had actually consulted with a provider of alternative therapies. The providers consulted were most frequently nutritionists, counsellors, herbalists and massage therapists. The usage of alternative practitioners was highest in patients with a diagnosis of at least 1 year. 75% of respondents preferred to receive a referral from their doctors, whereas 20% preferred to have a telephone referral line. Two thirds of patients felt that alternative care providers should be encouraged by the medical profession; 85% indicated that alternative therapies should be offered at the cancer centre as an integral part of oncology treatment.

Conclusion

Providing that the most advanced conventional treatment as well as accurate information and guidance is available, this service enables the patient and the cancer care team to focus on the patient's physical symptoms as well upon the overall quality of life.

References

Coss RA et al. Alternative care. Patient choices for adjunct therapies within a cancer centre. Cancer Pract 6(3): 176-81 May-Jun 1998.