A test of the self-help model and use of complementary and alternative medicine among Hispanic women during treatment for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relationships in Braden's Self-Help Model of side-effect burden to uncertainty, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), self-care, and quality of life (QOL) in Hispanic women during breast cancer treatment.


METHODS
Descriptive, correlational; convenience sample; cross-sectional design.


METHODS
An outpatient oncology clinic in a public setting of a metropolitan community in southern Texas.


METHODS
137 Hispanic women receiving or completing treatment for breast cancer.


METHODS
Participants completed a comprehensive set of instruments. Analyses included a correlation of variables and multiple regressions to examine variables for potential theoretical relationships.


METHODS
CAM use, uncertainty, and enabling skills.


RESULTS
CAM use as a resource to reduce uncertainty for Hispanic women during breast cancer treatment was not supported. As a type of self-care, CAM was minimally effective in improving QOL. The greater the side-effect burden that Hispanic women experienced, the more uncertainty and depression and lower QOL scores were found. In contrast, women who were involved in CAM self-care had higher QOL scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results provide valuable information about understanding CAM's role during breast cancer therapy among Hispanic women. The model-testing findings indicated strong support for a predicted pattern in Braden's Self-Help Model with a slight trend for CAM as a special type of self-care.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings further inform the concept development of CAM and model building. Additional research with a longitudinal design is needed to understand how CAM is used throughout the breast cancer treatment trajectory and will contribute to knowledge guiding nurses in facilitating self-care interventions for Hispanic women.
Owens
Barbara
B
School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA. owensb@uthscsa.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D035501:Uncertainty