Alternative therapy use in neurologic diseases: use in brain tumor patients

The extent of alternative therapy use in brain tumor patients is unknown, but it may be frequent and seems important to those who use it.

To characterize alternative therapy use in brain tumor patients.

Prospective questionnaire-based survey of 167 brain tumor patients who attended a cancer center in Southern Alberta. Physicians completed forms describing clinical information such as disease status.

The response rate was 91% (167/184). Twenty-four percent of patients used alternative therapies and often more than one therapy at the same time. Motivation to use these therapies was influenced by the desire for patient-focused treatment and a perceived need to take charge. Alternative therapy users were younger (p = 0.04) and more likely to be on sick or disability leave (p = 0.02), to come in for repeat visits (p = 0.05), and to have received conventional treatments (p = 0.01). Users tended to have lower quality of life with respect to physical well-being, functional well-being, and a specific brain tumor subscale. Clinical variables, such as disease status, tumor type, and Karnofsky Performance Score, were not related to alternative therapy use. Major changes in number and types of alternative therapy use occurred during the study period. No major side effects or tumor responses were seen with alternative therapies.

Alternative therapy use in brain tumor patients is common and may reflect unmet patient needs with respect to their cancer care within the current model of health care delivery.