Complementary and alternative therapy use at end-of-life in community settings

To investigate the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by an end-of- life population.

Random selection of death certificates used to locate family caregivers who were interviewed by telephone 2-5 months following decedents' deaths.

Decedent subjects died of natural causes in community settings. Family caregivers were very involved in the care and decision making for decedents during their terminal illness.

Family caregivers reported on whether decedents had used CAM, type of modality, and motivation for use.

CAM use by decedents was reported by 53.7% of family caregivers. Decedents who had used CAM were more likely to be younger, to have college degrees and higher household incomes, and to have used one or more life-sustaining treatment. The most frequent reason the decedents had used CAM was for symptom relief.

As baby boomers age, bringing their CAM familiarity and previous practices into the end-of-life phase, clinicians will need to be aware that CAM use for symptom control is likely to be prevalent.