Survey of cancer researchers regarding complementary and alternative medicine

The primary purpose of this survey was to assess the interest and concerns of a group of cancer researchers regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research issues. These issues include cancer researchers' perceptions of the most promising areas of cancer CAM research, their needs for support, the perceived obstacles to carrying out research objectives in the emerging field of cancer CAM research, and their level of interest in research collaboration with CAM practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of cancer researchers interested in CAM was conducted. Three hundred twenty-one respondents completed the survey, and 298 of them had participated in cancer research. About 85% of the respondents had participated in cancer CAM research. For all CAM categories, the percentage of respondents who would like to conduct research was greater than the percentage of those who have already done so. About two-thirds of the respondents rated research in pharmacologic and biologic treatments and nutritional therapeutics for cancer treatment and symptom/side-effect management as high-priority areas. The obstacle considered to be the most significant by the greatest percentage of the respondents (26.7%) was the lack of success in receiving research funds. This was also the most frequently encountered obstacle. The assistance that was considered to be very useful by the greatest percentage of respondents was support for developmental research or pilot projects, indicated by more than four-fifths (85.4%) of the respondents. More than 83% of respondents expressed some interest in or willingness to establish research collaboration with a CAM practitioner. The results from this survey indicate that many cancer CAM researchers have shared interests, needs, perceived obstacles, and desired research opportunities. These factors and other forces are likely to lead to further growth in the numbers and activity of cancer CAM researchers. If this occurs, then it will become even more important for the National Cancer Institute and other organizations to study the development and changes in this emerging research field.