title: Australian men with cancer practice complementary therapies (CTs) as a coping strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore how and why Australian men with cancer practice complementary therapies (CTs) and how their significant others (SOs) contribute to the regular uptake of CTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 26 male cancer patients and 24 SOs. Participants were purposefully sampled from a preceding Australian survey investigating the use of CTs in men with cancer (94% response rate and 86% consent rate for follow-up interview). Interviews were conducted in a metropolitan location, and the 43 interview transcripts were analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three core themes were identified: men used CTs as (a) problem-focused coping (e.g., diet modification), (b) emotion-focused coping (e.g., meditation), and (c) meaning-based coping (e.g., prayer). Practicing CTs helped men to cope with physical, emotional, and spiritual concerns, although some men spoke of difficulties with practicing meditation to regulate their emotions. SOs were supportive of men's coping strategies but were only rarely involved in men's emotion-focused coping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complementary therapies have the potential to facilitate coping with cancer, independent of any measurable physiological benefit. Our findings suggest that when clinicians engage in conversations about CTs use, they should consider the type of coping strategy employed by their patient. Such information may enhance the efficacy of some interventions (e.g., meditation) and also provide for an opportunity to discuss patients' expectations concerning CTs.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klafke
authors.forename: Jaklin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eliott
authors.forename: Ian N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Olver
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wittert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029181:Spirituality; D018454:Spouses; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: cancer; complementary therapies; coping; men; oncology; significant others