Treatment delay associated with alternative medicine use among veterans with head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in the United States. This study investigates whether the use of alternative medicine is associated with a delay of treatment in head and neck cancer.


METHODS
This study used the records obtained from a large trial involving ambulatory care US veterans. Subjects completed a CAM utilization questionnaire. The primary outcome variable was the time duration from cancer diagnosis to the time of cancer treatment.


RESULTS
Of veterans with head and neck cancer, 51% reported using some form of CAM, whereas 23% reported using a therapy classified as alternative medicine. Patients who used alternative medicine significantly delayed cancer treatment by 22 days compared with those who did not use alternative medicine (p = .05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0-44 days).


CONCLUSIONS
CAM use is common in veterans with head and neck cancer. Use of alternative medicine was associated with a significant delay in cancer treatment.
Davis
Greg E
GE
Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA. gedavis@u.washington.edu
Bryson
Chris L
CL
Yueh
Bevan
B
McDonell
Mary B
MB
Micek
Mark A
MA
Fihn
Stephan D
SD
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*