“It's natural, so it should not hurt me”: The dietitian's role in complementary and alternative medicine use during chemotherapy

Megan Crichton; Katelyn Strike; Elisabeth Isenring; Alexandra L. McCarthy; Wolfgang Marx; Anna Elizabeth Lohning; Skye Marshall

doi:10.1111/1747-0080.12689

Abstract

Background: Despite uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy, 40% to 80% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) during chemotherapy. This CAM use is often self-prescribed and undisclosed to health professionals. Aim: To explore patients' perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy and their implications for dietetic practice. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three investigators. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (70% female, 80% >55 years). These participants who received chemotherapy valued CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Participants' trust in CAM knowledge and hope for improved wellbeing was influenced by a vulnerability to external opinions. Conclusion: CAM was highly valued by some chemotherapy patients; who felt it played an important role in supporting their cancer treatment journey. Health professionals would benefit from education on how to best inform patients of the potential risks, harms, and lack of efficacy for CAM use during chemotherapy in a way that does not stigmatise patients.

Original language	English
Article number	144
Pages (from-to)	15
Journal	Nutrition and Dietetics
Volume	78
Issue number	s1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12689
Publication status	Published - 12 Mar 2021
Event	Dietitians Australia 2021 Conference: What's possible? - Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia Duration: 11 Jul 2021 → 13 Jul 2021 https://da2021.com.au

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1111/1747-0080.12689Licence: Free to read

Research by Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Students
Isenring, E. (Supervisor), Marshall, S. (Supervisor), Reidlinger, D. (Project Lead), Kelly, J. (Supervisor), Cox, G. (Supervisor), Van der Meij, B. (Supervisor), MacKenzie-Shalders, K. (Supervisor), Mayr, H. (Supervisor), Utter, J. (Associate Professor), Dahl, C. (Masters by Coursework Student), Crichton, M. (Masters by Coursework Student), O'Bryan, K. R. (Masters by Coursework Student), Norris, R. (Masters by Coursework Student), Fahey, M. (Masters by Coursework Student), Davidson, A. (Masters by Coursework Student), Naranjo, A. (Masters by Coursework Student), Mahoney, S. (Masters by Coursework Student), Eberhardt, F. (Masters by Coursework Student), Dalwood, P. (Masters by Coursework Student), Lopez, E. (Masters by Coursework Student), Hofto, S. (Masters by Coursework Student), Innerarity, C. (Masters by Coursework Student), So, D. (Masters by Coursework Student), McIntosh, A. (Masters by Coursework Student), Gadd, N. (Masters by Coursework Student), Chan, H. C. (Masters by Coursework Student), Lan, X. (Masters by Coursework Student), Fei, X. (Masters by Coursework Student), Kostjasyn, S. (Masters by Coursework Student), Adhyaru, P. (Masters by Coursework Student), Giang, J. (Masters by Coursework Student), Leung, E. L. Y. (Masters by Coursework Student), Strike, K. (Project Roles), Pearcy, J. (Masters by Coursework Student), Somani, A. (Masters by Coursework Student), Wright, C. (Masters by Coursework Student), Matthews, C. (Masters by Coursework Student), Lee, G. (Masters by Coursework Student), Tang, X. (Associate Investigator) & Eso, A. (Associate Investigator)
1/01/14 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
Oncology Nutrition Research
Isenring, E. (Project Lead), Marshall, S. (Senior Research Fellow), Van der Meij, B. (Senior Research Fellow), Rigby, R. (Associate Investigator), Teleni, L. (HDR Student), Crichton, M. (HDR Student) & Tang, X. (Admin)
1/01/14 → …
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "“It's natural, so it should not hurt me”: The dietitian's role in complementary and alternative medicine use during chemotherapy",

abstract = "Background: Despite uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy, 40\% to 80\% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) during chemotherapy. This CAM use is often self-prescribed and undisclosed to health professionals. Aim: To explore patients' perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy and their implications for dietetic practice. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three investigators. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (70\% female, 80\% >55 years). These participants who received chemotherapy valued CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Participants' trust in CAM knowledge and hope for improved wellbeing was influenced by a vulnerability to external opinions. Conclusion: CAM was highly valued by some chemotherapy patients; who felt it played an important role in supporting their cancer treatment journey. Health professionals would benefit from education on how to best inform patients of the potential risks, harms, and lack of efficacy for CAM use during chemotherapy in a way that does not stigmatise patients.",

author = "Megan Crichton and Katelyn Strike and Elisabeth Isenring and McCarthy, \{Alexandra L.\} and Wolfgang Marx and Lohning, \{Anna Elizabeth\} and Skye Marshall",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1111/1747-0080.12689",

language = "English",

volume = "78",

pages = "15",

journal = "Nutrition and Dietetics",

issn = "1032-1322",

publisher = "Wiley-Academy",

number = "s1",

note = "Dietitians Australia 2021 Conference : What's possible?, DA ; Conference date: 11-07-2021 Through 13-07-2021",

url = "https://da2021.com.au",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - “It's natural, so it should not hurt me”: The dietitian's role in complementary and alternative medicine use during chemotherapy

AU - Crichton, Megan

AU - Strike, Katelyn

AU - Isenring, Elisabeth

AU - McCarthy, Alexandra L.

AU - Marx, Wolfgang

AU - Lohning, Anna Elizabeth

AU - Marshall, Skye

PY - 2021/3/12

Y1 - 2021/3/12

N2 - Background: Despite uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy, 40% to 80% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) during chemotherapy. This CAM use is often self-prescribed and undisclosed to health professionals. Aim: To explore patients' perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy and their implications for dietetic practice. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three investigators. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (70% female, 80% >55 years). These participants who received chemotherapy valued CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Participants' trust in CAM knowledge and hope for improved wellbeing was influenced by a vulnerability to external opinions. Conclusion: CAM was highly valued by some chemotherapy patients; who felt it played an important role in supporting their cancer treatment journey. Health professionals would benefit from education on how to best inform patients of the potential risks, harms, and lack of efficacy for CAM use during chemotherapy in a way that does not stigmatise patients.

AB - Background: Despite uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy, 40% to 80% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) during chemotherapy. This CAM use is often self-prescribed and undisclosed to health professionals. Aim: To explore patients' perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy and their implications for dietetic practice. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a public hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three investigators. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (70% female, 80% >55 years). These participants who received chemotherapy valued CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Participants' trust in CAM knowledge and hope for improved wellbeing was influenced by a vulnerability to external opinions. Conclusion: CAM was highly valued by some chemotherapy patients; who felt it played an important role in supporting their cancer treatment journey. Health professionals would benefit from education on how to best inform patients of the potential risks, harms, and lack of efficacy for CAM use during chemotherapy in a way that does not stigmatise patients.

U2 - 10.1111/1747-0080.12689

DO - 10.1111/1747-0080.12689

M3 - Meeting Abstract

SN - 1032-1322

VL - 78

SP - 15

JO - Nutrition and Dietetics

JF - Nutrition and Dietetics

IS - s1

M1 - 144

T2 - Dietitians Australia 2021 Conference

Y2 - 11 July 2021 through 13 July 2021

ER -

“It's natural, so it should not hurt me”: The dietitian's role in complementary and alternative medicine use during chemotherapy

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Research by Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Students

Oncology Nutrition Research

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