The use of CAM products, practices, and practitioners by long-term endometrial cancer survivors in Australia
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The use of CAM products, practices, and practitioners by long-term endometrial cancer survivors in Australia Lucy Caughey 1 & Saira Sanjida 1 & Andreas Obermair 2 & Monika Janda 1 Received: 5 July 2019 / Accepted: 6 March 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Background The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) has been reported to be frequent and increasing in the general population and among cancer survivors. Very few studies have investigated the use of CAM among long-term endometrial cancer survivors. To address this gap in evidence, this qualitative study aimed to understand the use of CAM and factors motivating the use among long-term survivors of endometrial cancer. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer 7–10 years previously, to understand their CAM use and its impact on their wellbeing. Thematic analysis was performed by two researchers to extract the most relevant quotes related to CAM products, practices, and practitioners. Results All 17 women interviewed used some type of CAM practices, practitioners, or products, specifically 94% concentrated on their diet, 88% focused on their exercise, 59% used a CAM product, 53% visited a CAM practitioner, and 18% used a CAM psychological approach. The main motivators for CAM use included to reduce physical and psychological symptoms, and to stop or reduce medications. Women reported a lack of lifestyle advice from their traditional medical healthcare team which they therefore tried to obtain from other sources. Conclusions Our findings suggest CAM practices, practitioners, or products form an important part of women’s healthcare options and are commonly used by long-term endometrial cancer survivors. Our data can be of importance to health care professionals and hospitals, as it reflects an unfulfilled need among cancer survivors that does not currently appear to be met by their traditional healthcare team. Keywords Complementary and alternative medicines . Endometrial cancer . Supportive care needs . Quality of life . Survival
Introduction Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the developed world [1]. Australia and New Zealand have the fourth highest incidence rate in the world with 11.5 cases per 100,000 women [2]. In 2018, over 2900 new cases of endometrial cancer were diagnosed in Australia compared with only 1500 cases
* Monika Janda [email protected] 1
Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2
Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
reported in 2000. This increase is likely due to ageing of the population and high prevalence of obesity, which is a key risk factor for endometrial cancer [3]. Three out of four patients present with stage I endometrial cancer, and overall survival is good with 83% of women surviving at least 5 years post-surgery [3]. Despite these
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