College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Vancouver Coastal Health Region, Vancouver, Canada.
Support Care Cancer. 2018 Dec;26(12):4151-4159. doi: 10.1007/s00520-018-4288-9. Epub 2018 Jun 3.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is popular among Chinese-speaking cancer patients (CSCPs), but little research examines CAM use by Canadian CSCPs. The use of CAM is controversial because of potential interactions with conventional cancer treatments. The purpose of this study was to explore CSCPs' use of CAM, sources of CAM information, and decision support needs, as well as their experience of making CAM decisions.
A sequential, multi-method research design was used: a secondary data analysis of a CAM use survey conducted in a Western Canadian regional cancer agency followed by a qualitative interpretive description approach to inquiry using semi-structured interviews with CSPCs and support persons.
More than 65% of CSCPs reported using CAM. CSCPs favored biologically-based therapies, including traditional Chinese medicine herbs and other natural health products. Many CSCPs were using CAM without adequate culturally appropriate information and decision support. Those who made decisions spontaneously relied on peers for advice whereas deliberate decision makers sought information from multiple sources, including peers and the Internet, selecting therapies congruent with their cultural health perspectives and previous experiences with CAM. CSCPs rarely spoke with oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) about CAM use.
CSCPs reported using CAM at rates significantly higher than for non-CSCPs. Given the predominance of biological-based therapies and the lack of consultation with oncology HCPs, it is imperative that CAM use be assessed and documented to ensure CSCPs' safety during cancer treatment. Culturally appropriate information and decision support is required to ensure that CSCPs are making safe and informed CAM decisions.
补充和替代医学（CAM）在华语癌症患者（CSCP）中很受欢迎，但很少有研究调查加拿大 CSCP 使用 CAM 的情况。CAM 的使用存在争议，因为它可能与传统癌症治疗产生相互作用。本研究旨在探讨 CSCP 使用 CAM、CAM 信息来源和决策支持需求，以及他们做出 CAM 决策的经验。
采用顺序、多方法研究设计：对在加拿大西部地区癌症机构进行的 CAM 使用调查的二次数据分析，随后采用半结构化访谈对 CSPC 和支持人员进行定性解释描述方法的探究。
超过 65%的 CSCP 报告使用了 CAM。CSCP 更喜欢基于生物学的疗法，包括中药草药和其他天然保健品。许多 CSCP 在使用 CAM 时没有足够的文化适宜信息和决策支持。那些自发做出决策的人依靠同行获取建议，而刻意的决策者则从多个来源获取信息，包括同行和互联网，选择与他们的文化健康观点和以前使用 CAM 的经验相符的疗法。CSCP 很少与肿瘤学医疗保健提供者（HCPs）谈论 CAM 的使用情况。
CSCP 报告的 CAM 使用率明显高于非 CSCP。鉴于基于生物学的疗法占主导地位，并且很少与肿瘤学 HCP 咨询，因此必须评估和记录 CAM 的使用情况，以确保 CSCP 在癌症治疗期间的安全。需要提供文化适宜的信息和决策支持，以确保 CSCP 做出安全和明智的 CAM 决策。
