title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine among breast cancer survivors in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate complementary and alternative medicine use among breast cancer survivors in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employed a descriptive research design approach to detail the CAM use among the target population. Convenience sampling was used along with a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 230 breast cancer survivors completed the use CAM scale. Prayer, reading books, taking antioxidants, eating various grains, and maintaining a vegetarian diet proved to be the five most frequently used CAM practices among patients in our study. More than 50.0% of the participants reported praying occasionally. More than 40.0% of participants read books occasionally, and 38.7% stated that they occasionally take antioxidants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide more insight into CAM use for nurses who care for breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Yuanpei University and National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ue-Lin
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D012067:Religion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants