title: Treatment delay associated with alternative medicine use among veterans with head and neck cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA. gedavis@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Greg E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Chris L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: Bevan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yueh
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McDonell
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Micek
authors.forename: Stephan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fihn
mesh_terms: 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*