Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women

Introduction: Complementary medicine (CM) use has been found to influence the uptake of conventional cancer treatment. This study examines associations between CM use and cancer screening rates. Methods: Women aged 62 to 67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were surveyed...

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Main Authors: Jane Elizabeth Frawley PhD, Erica McIntyre PhD, David Sibbritt PhD, Jon Wardle PhD, Janet Schloss PhD, Romy Lauche PhD, Jon Adams PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-09-01
Series:Integrative Cancer Therapies
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735418781728
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author Jane Elizabeth Frawley PhD
Erica McIntyre PhD
David Sibbritt PhD
Jon Wardle PhD
Janet Schloss PhD
Romy Lauche PhD
Jon Adams PhD
author_facet Jane Elizabeth Frawley PhD
Erica McIntyre PhD
David Sibbritt PhD
Jon Wardle PhD
Janet Schloss PhD
Romy Lauche PhD
Jon Adams PhD
author_sort Jane Elizabeth Frawley PhD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Complementary medicine (CM) use has been found to influence the uptake of conventional cancer treatment. This study examines associations between CM use and cancer screening rates. Methods: Women aged 62 to 67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were surveyed regarding their use of cancer screening initiatives. Associations between cancer screening behavior and visits to CM practitioners were analyzed. Results: Of the 9151 women, 9049 (98.9%) completed questions about cancer screening. A total of 65.1% of women had received a clinical skin examination, 54.3% colorectal cancer screening, 56.2% Pap test (within past 2 years), 83.3% mammogram (within past 2 years), 55.8% clinical breast examination, and 55.8% had conducted breast self-examination. Women who had consulted a massage therapist were more likely to undergo clinical skin examination ( P = .002), clinical breast examination ( P = .018), and mammogram ( P = .001). Women who had consulted a chiropractor were more likely to undergo a clinical skin examination ( P = .001), colorectal cancer screening ( P = .020), and mammogram ( P = .011). Women who had consulted an acupuncturist were more likely to undergo colorectal cancer screening ( P = .019), and those who consulted with an osteopath were more liable to have a Pap test ( P = .049). Conclusion: Women who visit CM practitioners are more likely to participate in cancer screening initiatives. Research is required to understand the current and potential role that CM practitioners (can) have as public health advocates, recommending preventative health measures such as cancer screening. Such an examination will help ensure optimal screening utilization and effective, timely care for all cancer patients.
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spelling doaj.art-380b19d5002541c68f472f3cfa6f5a842022-12-21T22:41:25ZengSAGE PublishingIntegrative Cancer Therapies1552-695X2018-09-011710.1177/1534735418781728Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian WomenJane Elizabeth Frawley PhD0Erica McIntyre PhD1David Sibbritt PhD2Jon Wardle PhD3Janet Schloss PhD4Romy Lauche PhD5Jon Adams PhD6University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaEndeavour College of Natural Health, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaUniversity of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaIntroduction: Complementary medicine (CM) use has been found to influence the uptake of conventional cancer treatment. This study examines associations between CM use and cancer screening rates. Methods: Women aged 62 to 67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were surveyed regarding their use of cancer screening initiatives. Associations between cancer screening behavior and visits to CM practitioners were analyzed. Results: Of the 9151 women, 9049 (98.9%) completed questions about cancer screening. A total of 65.1% of women had received a clinical skin examination, 54.3% colorectal cancer screening, 56.2% Pap test (within past 2 years), 83.3% mammogram (within past 2 years), 55.8% clinical breast examination, and 55.8% had conducted breast self-examination. Women who had consulted a massage therapist were more likely to undergo clinical skin examination ( P = .002), clinical breast examination ( P = .018), and mammogram ( P = .001). Women who had consulted a chiropractor were more likely to undergo a clinical skin examination ( P = .001), colorectal cancer screening ( P = .020), and mammogram ( P = .011). Women who had consulted an acupuncturist were more likely to undergo colorectal cancer screening ( P = .019), and those who consulted with an osteopath were more liable to have a Pap test ( P = .049). Conclusion: Women who visit CM practitioners are more likely to participate in cancer screening initiatives. Research is required to understand the current and potential role that CM practitioners (can) have as public health advocates, recommending preventative health measures such as cancer screening. Such an examination will help ensure optimal screening utilization and effective, timely care for all cancer patients.https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735418781728
spellingShingle Jane Elizabeth Frawley PhD
Erica McIntyre PhD
David Sibbritt PhD
Jon Wardle PhD
Janet Schloss PhD
Romy Lauche PhD
Jon Adams PhD
Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
Integrative Cancer Therapies
title Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
title_full Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
title_fullStr Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
title_short Associations Between Cancer Screening Behavior and Complementary Medicine Use: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey of 9151 Australian Women
title_sort associations between cancer screening behavior and complementary medicine use results of a national cross sectional survey of 9151 australian women
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735418781728
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