title: Cancer survivors' perspectives and experience on western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine treatment and rehabilitation: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the People's Republic of China, both western medicine (WM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are the main treatment and rehabilitation options for cancer patients. This study aimed to explore cancer survivors' perspectives and experience of treatment and rehabilitation, in order to promote patient-centered activities of treatment and rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a qualitative research approach, 68 cancer survivors were recruited from eight community cancer rehabilitation organizations in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Eight focus group interviews were conducted. All these interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data were analyzed by theme analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WM was the main choice in treatment phase though study participants noted more side effects. TCM was primarily used in the recovery phase. The lack of communication between doctors and cancer patients appears to affect treatment adherence and impair the doctor-patient relationship. WM was expensive for diagnostic procedures and treatment, while the cumulative costs of frequent use of TCM in the long rehabilitation period were also high. Both treatment options created significant perceived economic burden on patients. Conflicting information about dietary supplements tended to make cancer survivors confused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving the communication between doctors and cancer patients helps to ameliorate cancer patient adherence and the effect of treatments. It is essential to educate cancer patients about the effect and cost of both WM and traditional TCM. Meanwhile, marketing management and guidance to consumers regarding use of dietary supplements in the cancer rehabilitation field are also necessary.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Si-Jia
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tian-Rui
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Partike
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yu
keywords: adherence; cancer survivor education; focus group interview; preference