Patients' opinion and use of non-proven therapies related to their view on cancer aetiology.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate patients' attitudes to and use of nonproven therapies (NPTs) in view of their opinions about causes of cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comparative questionnaire-based study was given to patients with non-malignant disease (n = 305) seen in general practice and cancer patients (n = 252) seen at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Tromsø.

RESULTS

Among non-cancer patients significantly more NPT-positive than NPT-negative patients considered the environment to be an important cancer cause (74% versus 52%) and that food and drink may be carcinogenic (57% versus 40%). For cancer patients, there was no such difference. 60% of non-cancer patients and 35% of cancer patients believed that life style changes could alter the natural course of cancer. In both groups of patients, the NPT-positive believed, to a higher degree than the NPT-negative, that the outcome of cancer could be improved by a change in life style (69% and 48% versus 53% and 29%).

CONCLUSION

Patients positive to NPTs have firmer beliefs with respect to the importance of environmental factors than non-believers/-users. Moreover, these patients believed more strongly than NPT-negative patients that change of lifestyle may influence the outcome of cancer positively.