title: Complementary needs behind complementary therapies in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although many studies indicate that the use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients is common and widespread, few studies have focused on unmet needs of patients using complementary therapies (CTs). The aim of the present study was to evaluate, through a quantitative approach, possible associations between the use of CTs and the presence of specific unmet needs in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In six Italian oncology departments, 783 patients were interviewed about CTs use and completed the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire. Patients included in the study had different primary tumor sites and were in different phases of the disease and care process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the time of the survey, 38.3% of patients were using one or more types of CTs. According to Needs Evaluation Questionnaire, the use of CTs was associated (p < .05) with the need to be more involved in therapeutic choices (40% vs. 31.7%), the need to have a better dialogue with clinicians (44.4% vs. 37.2%), and the need to have more economic-insurance information in relation to their illness (46.1% vs. 36.4%). Statistical significance was confirmed with multivariable analysis for the last two items, whereas three more needs were associated with the use of CTs after adjustment: to receive more explanation on treatments (46.8% vs. 41.0%), to receive more comprehensible information (38% vs. 31.9%), and to receive more attention from nurses (16% vs. 12.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows interesting differences regarding perceived needs between cancer patients who use and who do not use CTs. Unmet needs that are more expressed in CTs users should be known and, when possible, could be taken into account to improve both psychosocial interventions in the context of conventional care process and the quality of the relationship between patient and medical and nursing staff.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Descriptive Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention-ISPO, Florence, Italy.|Centro Studi e Ricerca Synthesis, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonacchi
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi e Ricerca Synthesis, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toccafondi
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica AUSL 1, Massa Carrara, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mambrini
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica AUSL 1, Massa Carrara, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantore
authors.affiliation: Centro Riabilitazione Oncologica, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention-ISPO, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Muraca
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica Aziendale AUSL 10, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Focardi
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lippi
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Descriptive Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention-ISPO, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miccinesi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult