Purpose
To identify the prevalence and characteristics of long-term adult
cancer survivors who use complementary health approaches (CHA).
Methods
Participants completed the Follow-up Care Use Among Survivors (FOCUS)
Survey, a cross-sectional investigation of long-term cancer survivors. Use
of CHA and reasons for use were assessed. A multivariable logistic
regression model was applied to identify if predisposing, enabling and need
characteristics described in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Healthcare Model were associated with CHA use in the past year.
Results
Long-term cancer survivors in the study (N=1,666) were predominately
female (62%) and older (mean age=69.5), with breast, prostate,
colorectal, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Thirty-three percent of
survivors used CHA in the past year. Common reasons for CHA use were: to
relieve stress (28%), treat or prevent cancer (21%), relieve
cancer-related symptoms (18%), and deal with another condition
(18%). Predisposing (i.e., higher optimism) and need factors (i.e.,
experienced cancer-related symptoms, ever had depression/anxiety) were
significantly associated with CHA (p-values <0.05).
Enabling factors (i.e., insurance coverage, financial resources) were
not.
Conclusions
Cancer survivors continue to report a high prevalence of recent CHA
use more than five years after initial diagnosis. Healthcare providers
should be aware of increased use of CHA among subgroups of long-term cancer
survivors in order to guide safe and optimal use.