Expected and perceived efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine: A comparison views of patients with cancer and oncologists.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to identify discrepancies between the expectations of patients with cancer and oncologists regarding the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), and to determine how patients evaluate CAM efficacy after its use.


METHODS
Data from the Cancer Patient Experience Study, a nationwide survey, were used. Seven subdivided efficacy domains were included in the survey. An oncologist-patient matching analysis was done to assess the concordance of CAM efficacies between oncologists and patients with cancer. In addition, the patients' expectations of CAM efficacies were compared before and after use.


RESULTS
Out of 719 participants, 201 patients with cancer (28.0%) reported using CAMs. The patients with cancer generally tended to be more positive about CAM efficacies than the oncologists. The largest discrepancy in efficacy perception was found in the efficacy domain of survival benefit, which included complete disease remission and prolonged survival. Many patients reported that they did not experience the positive efficacy they had anticipated before use. However, a substantial proportion of patients indicated that CAMs were as effective as they had expected, even though there is little evidence supporting the CAM efficacies.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a marked discrepancy and a lack of concordance in expectations of CAM efficacy between patients with cancer and oncologists. Better communication between the patients and oncologists regarding CAM efficacy would be needed to make the patients to have shared expectations, and to reduce unnecessary CAM use.
Department of Family Medicine & Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sang Hyuck
SH
Kim
Department of Family Medicine & Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dwshin.snuh@gmail.com.
Dong Wook
DW
Shin
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
You-Seon
YS
Nam
National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
So Young
SY
Kim
National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
Hyung-Kook
HK
Yang
Department of Family Medicine & Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Republic of Korea; Institute on Aging, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Be Long
BL
Cho
Cancer Policy Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
Keeho
K
Park
Department of Health Management and Policy, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
Heui-Sug
HS
Jo
Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Chang-Yeol
CY
Yim
Department of Preventative Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Sin
S
Kam
National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Department of Health Informatics and Management, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jonghyock@gmail.com.
Jong-Hyock
JH
Park
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000072103:Oncologists / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
Cancer patient; Complementary and alternative medicine; Discrepancy; Efficacy; Oncologist