Prevalence and pattern of use of complementary and alternative medicine among Chinese cancer patients

Complementary and alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. To date, very little is known about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Chinese cancer patients. This study uses a descriptive, cross-sectional design to explore the prevalence, pattern and factors associated with CAM use among Chinese-American cancer patients. A convenience sample of 100 patients was recruited from local support groups. There were 75 female and 25 male who completed a semi-structured anonymous questionnaire. Majority of them were married, foreign born and in early stage of cancer. According to survey result, 74% of the participants use some type of CAM, the most common type being Chinese herbal medicine (64%). Although half of the patients used herbal medicine concomitantly with conventional treatment, they did not disclose such use to their doctor. Findings from the study will help cancer patients make informed decisions regarding their health care options and cancer treatment.