Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study
Abstract Background Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is commonly used by cancer patients in Northern Norway, in particular spiritual forms like traditional healing. T&CM is mainly used complementary to conventional cancer treatment and is rarely discussed with conventional healt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2762-7 |
| _version_ | 1818965935307882496 |
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| author | Agnete Egilsdatter Kristoffersen Trine Stub Ann Ragnhild Broderstad Anne Helen Hansen |
| author_facet | Agnete Egilsdatter Kristoffersen Trine Stub Ann Ragnhild Broderstad Anne Helen Hansen |
| author_sort | Agnete Egilsdatter Kristoffersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is commonly used by cancer patients in Northern Norway, in particular spiritual forms like traditional healing. T&CM is mainly used complementary to conventional cancer treatment and is rarely discussed with conventional health care providers, increasing the risk of negative interaction with conventional cancer care. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of T&CM among cancer patients in Tromsø, and to investigate the differences in T&CM use between people living with cancer, people with cancer previously, and people without a history of cancer. Method Data was drawn from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study conducted in 2015–2016. All inhabitants of Tromsø aged 40 and above were invited to participate (n = 32,591) of whom n = 21,083 accepted the invitation (response rate 65%). Data was collected thorough three self-administered questionnaires and a comprehensive clinical examination. Pearson chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests and one-way ANOVA tests were used to describe differences between the groups while binary logistic regressions were used for adjusted values. Results Eight percent of the participants (n = 1636) reported to have (n = 404) or have had (n = 1232) cancer. Of the participants with cancer at present 33.4% reported use of T&CM within the last year, 13.6% had consulted a T&CM provider, 17.9% had used herbal medicine/natural remedies and 6.4% had practiced self-help techniques. The participants with cancer at present were more likely to have visited a T&CM provider than participants with cancer previously (13.6% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.020). Among the participants with cancer at present, 6.4% reported to have consulted a TM provider, 5.8% had consulted an acupuncturist, while 4.7% had consulted other CM providers. Women were significantly more likely than men to have used acupuncture and self-help techniques. No significant gender differences were found regarding visits to other CM providers, TM providers nor use of herbal medicine/natural remedies. Conclusion The findings are in line with previous research suggesting that both men and women use TM complementary to other CM modalities outside the official health care system. As herbal medicine might interact with conventional cancer treatment, health care providers need to discuss such use with their patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:24:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-934005e6fe144044a7faed0c606d75d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6882 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:24:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-934005e6fe144044a7faed0c606d75d32022-12-21T19:39:17ZengBMCBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine1472-68822019-11-0119111310.1186/s12906-019-2762-7Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø studyAgnete Egilsdatter Kristoffersen0Trine Stub1Ann Ragnhild Broderstad2Anne Helen Hansen3National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM), Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayNational Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM), Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayCentre for Sami Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayCentre for Quality Improvement and Development, University Hospital of North NorwayAbstract Background Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is commonly used by cancer patients in Northern Norway, in particular spiritual forms like traditional healing. T&CM is mainly used complementary to conventional cancer treatment and is rarely discussed with conventional health care providers, increasing the risk of negative interaction with conventional cancer care. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of T&CM among cancer patients in Tromsø, and to investigate the differences in T&CM use between people living with cancer, people with cancer previously, and people without a history of cancer. Method Data was drawn from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study conducted in 2015–2016. All inhabitants of Tromsø aged 40 and above were invited to participate (n = 32,591) of whom n = 21,083 accepted the invitation (response rate 65%). Data was collected thorough three self-administered questionnaires and a comprehensive clinical examination. Pearson chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests and one-way ANOVA tests were used to describe differences between the groups while binary logistic regressions were used for adjusted values. Results Eight percent of the participants (n = 1636) reported to have (n = 404) or have had (n = 1232) cancer. Of the participants with cancer at present 33.4% reported use of T&CM within the last year, 13.6% had consulted a T&CM provider, 17.9% had used herbal medicine/natural remedies and 6.4% had practiced self-help techniques. The participants with cancer at present were more likely to have visited a T&CM provider than participants with cancer previously (13.6% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.020). Among the participants with cancer at present, 6.4% reported to have consulted a TM provider, 5.8% had consulted an acupuncturist, while 4.7% had consulted other CM providers. Women were significantly more likely than men to have used acupuncture and self-help techniques. No significant gender differences were found regarding visits to other CM providers, TM providers nor use of herbal medicine/natural remedies. Conclusion The findings are in line with previous research suggesting that both men and women use TM complementary to other CM modalities outside the official health care system. As herbal medicine might interact with conventional cancer treatment, health care providers need to discuss such use with their patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2762-7CancerComplementary and alternative medicineCAMTraditional and complementary medicineT&CMComplementary therapies |
| spellingShingle | Agnete Egilsdatter Kristoffersen Trine Stub Ann Ragnhild Broderstad Anne Helen Hansen Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine CAM Traditional and complementary medicine T&CM Complementary therapies |
| title | Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study |
| title_full | Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study |
| title_fullStr | Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study |
| title_short | Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study |
| title_sort | use of traditional and complementary medicine among norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the tromso study |
| topic | Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine CAM Traditional and complementary medicine T&CM Complementary therapies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2762-7 |
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