title: A comparison of decision-making processes for conventional and complementary medicine in cancer patients.
abstract: To understand the decision-making processes involved in conventional medicine and complementary medicine cancer treatment, and the role that information plays, a cross-sectional survey of cancer patients was carried out at 2 Australian cancer centres. Data was obtained from 75 cancer patients. When asked about complementary medicine use, 36 (48%) patients reported using some form of complementary medicine in conjunction with their conventional treatment. In terms of decision-making, our findings suggest that although cancer patients appear to be at different stages of decision-making for complementary medicine compared with conventional medicine, there was no difference between the decision-making process for cancer patients when it comes to utilising conventional medicine or complementary medicine: patients reported comparable high decisional self-efficacy and low decisional conflict for both areas of medicine.
authors: Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith South DC, NSW, Australia. bridget@naturalbridgehealth.com
authors: Bridget
authors: B
authors: Carmady
authors: Caroline A
authors: CA
authors: Smith
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Colagiuri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010361:Patients; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult