The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in Sri Lankan cancer care: Results from a survey of 500 cancer patients

Broom, A; Wijewardena, K; Sibbritt, D; Adams, J; Nayar, KR

The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in Sri Lankan cancer care: Results from a survey of 500 cancer patients

Broom, A

Wijewardena, K Sibbritt, D

Adams, J

Nayar, KR

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Public Health, 2010, 124 (4), pp. 232 - 237
Issue Date:: 2010-04-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Broom, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1258-1140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wijewardena, K	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nayar, KR	en_US
dc.date.available	2010-02-18	en_US
dc.date.issued	2010-04-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Public Health, 2010, 124 (4), pp. 232 - 237	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0033-3506	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15614
dc.description.abstract	Objectives: While the introduction of biomedicine within the Sri Lankan healthcare system has resulted in reduced reliance on traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) over the last century in Sri Lanka, treatment modalities such as Ayurveda, Sinhala and traditional religious practices still receive considerable public support. Cancer is an increasing burden in Sri Lanka, and whilst Sri Lankans are known to use TCAM for everyday ailments, there has been no research examining the role of TCAM in the context of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of TCAM use by cancer patients. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Data were obtained from two Sri Lankan hospitals using a consecutive convenience sample of 500 cancer patients currently receiving biomedical treatment, over a 10-week period in 2008. Results: Analyses showed that 67.4% of those surveyed used one or more TCAM in conjunction with biomedicine for cancer treatment. The most common were Sinhala, Ayurveda and traditional religious practices. Of those patients who used TCAM, 95.0% gave the main reason for usage as 'they thought it would cure their cancer'. The strongest reason for not using TCAM was on advice from their doctor (80.5%). Conclusions: The high use of TCAM amongst cancer patients in Sri Lanka raises numerous important issues, including those related to patient safety, potential benefit, interactions with biomedical cancer treatments, and delays in seeking biomedical cancer care. Further research is needed to explore the decision-making processes of cancer patients, including the perceived benefits/limitations of key processes in biomedical and TCAM care. © 2010 The Royal Society for Public Health.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Public Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.puhe.2010.02.012	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Neoplasms	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Medicine, Ayurvedic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Care Surveys	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sri Lanka	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.title	The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in Sri Lankan cancer care: Results from a survey of 500 cancer patients	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	124	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
dc.location.activity	ISI:000278366900008	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	124	en_US

Abstract:

Objectives: While the introduction of biomedicine within the Sri Lankan healthcare system has resulted in reduced reliance on traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) over the last century in Sri Lanka, treatment modalities such as Ayurveda, Sinhala and traditional religious practices still receive considerable public support. Cancer is an increasing burden in Sri Lanka, and whilst Sri Lankans are known to use TCAM for everyday ailments, there has been no research examining the role of TCAM in the context of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of TCAM use by cancer patients. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Data were obtained from two Sri Lankan hospitals using a consecutive convenience sample of 500 cancer patients currently receiving biomedical treatment, over a 10-week period in 2008. Results: Analyses showed that 67.4% of those surveyed used one or more TCAM in conjunction with biomedicine for cancer treatment. The most common were Sinhala, Ayurveda and traditional religious practices. Of those patients who used TCAM, 95.0% gave the main reason for usage as 'they thought it would cure their cancer'. The strongest reason for not using TCAM was on advice from their doctor (80.5%). Conclusions: The high use of TCAM amongst cancer patients in Sri Lanka raises numerous important issues, including those related to patient safety, potential benefit, interactions with biomedical cancer treatments, and delays in seeking biomedical cancer care. Further research is needed to explore the decision-making processes of cancer patients, including the perceived benefits/limitations of key processes in biomedical and TCAM care. © 2010 The Royal Society for Public Health.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15614