Incorporating Patients' Perspectives in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinical Trial Design

Abstract

Eliciting the views of persons who have undergone significant medical events is a necessary step in rigorous clinical trial development aimed at testing the efficacy of CAM modalities for symptom management. Consideration of patient preferences and motivations may ensure the best fit between interventions and the desired outcomes.

How to summarise and report written qualitative data from patients: a method for use in cancer support care

“…In fact, when the wider research team was consulted, no complete agreement on organisation of supercategories was reached, as everyone had a different academic perspective. The importance of involving the 'users' in this research was recognised as essential [10,15], and to resolve the supercategory derivation, the researchers felt it was necessary to let the service-users make the decision within a focus group setting, hence reflecting upon their own experience of cancer. The benefits of focus group methodology are succinctly described by White and Verhoef [20].…”

Applying Best–Worst scaling methodology to establish delivery preferences of a symptom supportive care intervention in patients with lung cancer

“…An interview study with 10 cancer patients exploring preferences and opinions of a complementary medicine trial showed that marrow transplant patients were more receptive to receiving gentle massage during the transplant than listening to guided imagery tapes, although neither intervention would have been welcomed during treatment phases with high physical and emotional demands [4]. Also, in a qualitative evaluation of recruitment to difficult trials it was shown that a key aspect hindering recruitment was the strong treatment preferences expressed by potential participants [5].…”

Effects of massage therapy and touch on quality of life outcomes for autologous stem cell transplant patients

“…49 Stressors associated with ASCT include travel for treatment, financial hardship, medical appointments, hospitalization, invasive treatments, separation from family and friends, and physical isolation. 65 Gaston-Johansson and Foxall 24 also found depression to be highest prior to transplant. Depression is a strong predictor of QoL and may be associated with immune function and survival in patients with cancer who receive a 28 ASCT.…”

“…The ASCT process entails several distinct phases, each with unique procedures and threats to health-related quality of life (QoL). 34,65 Prior to ASCT, patients are hospitalized or treated as daily outpatients for mobilization of stem cells from the bone marrow. This mobilization phase involves daily chemotherapy for 3 to 5 days, often supplemented with growth factors (e.g., Neupogen®), to stimulate cell proliferation.…”

“…Similar to previous study data, 3 ' 66 a structured interview study conducted with 10 patients who had received ASCT over the previous year revealed that those with cancer were very receptive to the use of massage therapy during hospitalization. 65 The patients (5 women and 5 men) had a variety of cancers (six Unlike many relaxation therapies, massage can be effective for patients with low imagery abilities or limited cognitive ability as well as for those with reduced concentration and/or fatigue. 75 Similar to acupuncture and relaxation, 23 In the study by Ahles and colleagues, 3 Smith and colleagues 66 conducted a randomized control study of adult patients receiving a bone marrow transplant.…”