title: Complementary therapy: perceptions of older people with lung or colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how older people with lung and colorectal cancer view registered complementary therapy (CT) services in Northern Ireland.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  A literature review highlighted gaps around information, access, and communication between patients and health professionals regarding CT services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using structured interviews, a survey of 68 patients in one hospital and one hospice was conducted in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All respondents felt that CT services should be better promoted and more easily accessible to older people with cancer. Some patients were concerned about the lack of written information provided regarding CT services, which they believed led to poorer uptake and uncertainty regarding the potential benefits. Others were concerned that engaging in or disclosing CT usage might negatively affect existing relationships with medical professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients should be offered high quality written information on CT services to enable choice, improve knowledge, and promote wider access. Increased physician education may facilitate provision of such information.
authors.affiliation: School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, 6 College Park, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland. a.roulston@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roulston
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*