The Prevalence and Related Factors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Used in Thai Breast Cancer Patients

This study's aim is to identify the prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used among Thai breast cancer patients and investigate the factors influencing the use of CAM by these patients.

We interviewed 220 Thai breast cancer patients who visited the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center and the Maha Vajiralongkorn Cancer Center during the period from October 2008 to September 2010 and collected data about their socio-economic status, history of cancer treatments and complications, the cancer staging, their Quality of life (QoL) and types and reasons of CAM used.

The prevalence of CAM usage in Thai breast cancer patients was 560 in every 1,000 patients. Factors which influenced CAM usage were; the patients' educational level, amount of income per month, the duration of the individuals' breast cancer diagnoses, menopausal status, the type of axillary surgery used in the course of their treatment, the incidences of systemic recurrence and physical components as measured by the SF-36.

The results have shown that most Thai breast cancer patients used CAM for the treatment of their breast cancer and had used CAM after being diagnosed with breast cancer Healthcare providers should recognize and provide pros and cons to patients and their family if CAM were used during breast cancer treatment.