Individual differences in cancer patients' willingness to use complementary and alternative medicine.

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients very often combine conventional methods of treatment with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is not clear why some cancer patients are inclined to use CAM, whereas others are not.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to find predictors of cancer patients' willingness to use CAM. The study investigated whether personality traits, cognitive preferences and paranormal beliefs are determinants of these patients' willingness to use CAM.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study participants were 49 cancer patients. The Polish version of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory was used in the study to asses personality traits; cognitive preferences were measured with Nosal's Mind Types checklist (CTU-96); an Inexplicable Phenomena scale was used to examine paranormal beliefs; and willingness to use CAM was assessed with a Decision-Making Choices Questionnaire (DMCQ).

RESULTS

Among the studied personality traits, extraversion, neuroticism and a lower level of openness to experience were significant predictors of cancer patients' willingness to use CAM, along with emotionality and rationality as cognitive preferences.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is required to verify the hypothesis of different roles of individual predispositions in making decisions about the use of CAM, depending on the subject's health condition.