Wyatt G K, Friedman L L, Given C W, Given B A, Beckrow K C
College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
Cancer Pract. 1999 May-Jun;7(3):136-44. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-5394.1999.07305.x.
The purpose of this study was to assess the use of complementary therapies among older cancer patients, to report patterns of use, and to understand who is more likely to use complementary therapies.
A survey was conducted of 699 older cancer patients at 4 weeks and 6 weeks into cancer treatment. All participants were 64 years of age or older, had received a diagnosis of breast, colorectal, prostate, or lung cancer, and were recruited from community cancer treatment centers throughout Michigan. Measures of interest included self-reported physical symptoms, depressive symptomatology, optimism, spirituality, and use of conventional and complementary health services.
Approximately 33% of older cancer patients reported using complementary therapies. These individuals were more likely to be women, to be breast cancer patients, and to have a higher level of education. The three most frequently used therapies were exercise, herbal therapy, and spiritual healing. Complementary therapy users were significantly more optimistic than nonusers. Also, there were significant differences between users and nonusers on types of physical symptoms experienced, but no differences on reported depressive symptomatology or spirituality.
Oncology providers need to be aware that one third of their older patients are likely to supplement conventional care with complementary therapies. Therefore, providers should be knowledgeable about the safety and efficacy, in particular, of various exercise programs, herbal and vitamin therapies, and spiritual healing. It would be beneficial to develop a system within cancer centers by which patients could easily report on their use of complementary therapies, allowing providers to work in partnership with their patients.
本研究旨在评估老年癌症患者对补充疗法的使用情况，报告使用模式，并了解哪些人更有可能使用补充疗法。
在癌症治疗的第4周和第6周，对699名老年癌症患者进行了一项调查。所有参与者年龄在64岁及以上，已被诊断患有乳腺癌、结直肠癌、前列腺癌或肺癌，且是从密歇根州各地的社区癌症治疗中心招募的。感兴趣的测量指标包括自我报告的身体症状、抑郁症状、乐观情绪、精神信仰以及对传统和补充健康服务的使用情况。
约33%的老年癌症患者报告使用了补充疗法。这些人更有可能是女性、乳腺癌患者且受教育程度较高。三种最常用的疗法是运动、草药疗法和精神治疗。使用补充疗法的患者比未使用者明显更乐观。此外，在经历的身体症状类型方面，使用者和未使用者之间存在显著差异，但在报告的抑郁症状或精神信仰方面没有差异。
肿瘤学提供者需要意识到，他们三分之一的老年患者可能会用补充疗法来辅助传统治疗。因此，提供者应该了解各种运动项目、草药和维生素疗法以及精神治疗的安全性和有效性。在癌症中心建立一个系统，让患者能够轻松报告他们对补充疗法的使用情况，使提供者能够与患者合作，这将是有益的。
