"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines

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

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362

"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

176 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
and purpose: Minimal evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during chemotherapy is accompanied with a high prevalence of use and nondisclosure to health professionals. This study aimed to explore patients’ perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy.

Materials and methods
Semi-structured interviews with ten adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in Australia were transcribed verbatim. Three investigators thematically analysed the interviews.

Results
These participants receiving chemotherapy value CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice.

Conclusion
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 lead to patient non-disclosure of CAM use.

Original language	English
Article number	101362
Journal	Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Volume	43
Early online date	11 Mar 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362
Publication status	Published - May 2021

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10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362

“It’s natural so it shouldn’t hurt me”: Chemotherapy patients’ perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicinesAccepted author manuscript, 776 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Crichton, M., Strike, K., Isenring, E., McCarthy, A. L., Marx, W., Lohning, A. E., & Marshall, S. (2021). "It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  . Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 43, Article 101362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362

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title = "{"}It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me{"}: Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  ",

abstract = "Background and purpose: Minimal evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during chemotherapy is accompanied with a high prevalence of use and nondisclosure to health professionals. This study aimed to explore patients{\textquoteright} perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews with ten adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in Australia were transcribed verbatim. Three investigators thematically analysed the interviews. Results These participants receiving chemotherapy value CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Conclusion 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 lead to patient non-disclosure of CAM use.",

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

note = "Megan will have a copy of the accepted manuscripts and materials",

year = "2021",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362",

language = "English",

volume = "43",

journal = "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice",

issn = "1744-3881",

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"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  . / Crichton, Megan; Strike, Katelyn; Isenring, Elisabeth et al.
In: Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Vol. 43, 101362, 05.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - "It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  

AU - Crichton, Megan

AU - Strike, Katelyn

AU - Isenring, Elisabeth

AU - McCarthy, Alexandra L.

AU - Marx, Wolfgang

AU - Lohning, Anna Elizabeth

AU - Marshall, Skye

N1 - Megan will have a copy of the accepted manuscripts and materials

PY - 2021/5

Y1 - 2021/5

N2 - Background and purpose: Minimal evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during chemotherapy is accompanied with a high prevalence of use and nondisclosure to health professionals. This study aimed to explore patients’ perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews with ten adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in Australia were transcribed verbatim. Three investigators thematically analysed the interviews. Results These participants receiving chemotherapy value CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Conclusion 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 lead to patient non-disclosure of CAM use.

AB - Background and purpose: Minimal evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during chemotherapy is accompanied with a high prevalence of use and nondisclosure to health professionals. This study aimed to explore patients’ perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews with ten adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in Australia were transcribed verbatim. Three investigators thematically analysed the interviews. Results These participants receiving chemotherapy value CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Conclusion 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 lead to patient non-disclosure of CAM use.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85102558578

U2 - 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362

DO - 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101362

M3 - Article

C2 - 33740590

SN - 1744-3881

VL - 43

JO - Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

JF - Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

M1 - 101362

ER -

"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines

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"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines

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"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines  