P03.14. Cancer complementary and alternative medicine research among NCI’s cancer centers program and the integrative medicine programs: an inventory

Introduction: Oncological second opinions are becoming increasingly important given more complex treatment strategies, simultaneously more patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and many comprehensive cancer centers initiate integrative medicine programs. The present study focuses on analyzing the effects of a second opinion in relation to attitudes toward CAM. Methods: In this prospective study patients (n = 97) with a diagnosis of breast cancer or gynecological malignancies who had requested a second opinion received a questionnaire before and after the second opinion concerning their attitudes toward CAM. Results: The majority of patients had breast cancer (72.2%, n = 70). Only 6.2% (n = 6) stated that they had been informed about CAM by the doctors who treated them first, 21.6% (n = 21) had received information about it when seeking the second opinion. After the first opinion, 42.3% (n = 41) wanted to try CAM, the same proportion trusted orthodox medicine alone. After the second opinion, 24 patients (24.7%) wanted to try CAM, while 38.1% (n = 37) relied exclusively on orthodox medicine. There was a significant correlation between an increased patients’ need for information and interest in CAM (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Today, aspects of CAM still are very often no part of oncological first and second opinions. This might hence lead to discouraging patients to try out CAM and therefore integrative medicine programs in comprehensive cancer centers might be problem-solving.

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Integrative Medicine Research in New Mexico: Lessons From the Published Literature

Complementary health practice review ◽

10.1177/1533210106291988 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 107-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian Shelley

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

New Mexico ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Integrative Medicine ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Medicine Research ◽

Complementary And Alternative ◽

Research Studies

This review provides an in-depth examination of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) and/or integrative medicine (IM) research in New Mexico, where many unique cultural and traditional healing systems are still commonly used. A comprehensive search for all recent research studies relating to TCAM/IM in New Mexico was carried out by the author. The survey identified 14 research studies, both quantitative and qualitative, published from 1990 to 2004 that included subjects and data on New Mexico. The studies were grouped into the areas of traditional systems and beliefs, mind-body medicine, natural health products, and conventional providers and complementary and alternative medicine, and individual studies were summarized, with the author's commentary. The review confirms that patients in New Mexico from diverse cultures extensively use various forms of TCAM/IM, yet communication about this topic with conventional health care providers is not optimal. The results of this review will inform future education, research, and health care policy in New Mexico.

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