Pattern of alternative medicine usage among the Chinese breast cancer patients: implication for service integration.
The study examined the pattern of and factors associated with use of alternative medicine (AM) among Chinese breast cancer patients. An analytical, cross-sectional survey of 352 breast cancer patients from two breast cancer centers was conducted in 1997. Amongst the respondents, the usage rate of alternative medicine was 27.8%. Factors forming the use of AM included being young to middle-aged, having higher education and a belief that AM would enhance orthodox treatment. A substantial proportion of Chinese breast cancer patients use AM besides conventional medicine. There is a need to integrate AM with conventional medicine to improve the service provision for cancer patients.
Abdullah
Abu S M
AS
Department of Community Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Lau
Yvonne
Y
Chow
Louis W C
LW
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health