A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Thai Women with Breast Cancer to Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Keywords:
Alternative medicine, Breast cancer, Care practices, Complementary medicine, Decision-making, Ethnonursing, Qualitative research, Thailand, WomenAbstract
While taking conventional medicines to cure cancer, some people also use complementary and alternative medicine to improve their health and well-being. This study used Leininger’s ethnonursing method to identify cultural factors influencing 17 Thai women with breast cancer to select complementary and alternative medicines for their health and well-being. They were recruited from a hospital in the lower northern part of Thailand and in-depth interviews and field notes were utilized with each participant. Data were analyzed by using Leininger’s method. Findings revealed that factors influencing them to select complementary and alternative medicine centred on (1) kinship, (2) social factors, (3) economic status, and (4) beliefs and lifestyles. Findings suggested that many important factors influenced participants’ decisions about using complementary and alternative medicines. Family members and significant others were the most important resources of information. Financial issues were a barrier to continue or discontinue use of complementary and alternative medicines. The beliefs and lifestyles of Thai people also influenced the selection of types of alternative medicine used by the participants. Therefore, nurses should assess patients’ perspectives, such as their beliefs and their social networks. Moreover, significant persons should be involved between the health care provider and the patient regarding care practice decision-making.
References
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27. Weeks L, Verhoef M, Scott C. Presenting the alternative: Cancer and complementary and alternative medicine in the Canadian print media. Support Care Cancer 2007; 15(8):931–938.
28. Chokevivat V, Chuthaputti A. The role of Thai traditional medicine in health promotion. The 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion. Bangkok 2005:1-25. [Thai]
29. Lu JH, Tsay SL, Sung SC. Taiwanese adult cancer patients’ reports of using complementary therapies. Cancer Nurs. 2010;33(4):320-326.
30. Balneaves LG, Bottorff JL, Hislop TG, Herbert C. Levels of commitment: exploring complementary therapy use by women with breast cancer. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(5):459-466.
31. Wong-Kim E, Merighi JR. Complementary and alternative medicine for pain management in U.S. - and foreign-born Chinese women with breast cancer. J Health Care Poor Underserved.2007;18(Suppl.4):118-129.
32. Eliott JA, Kealey CP, Olver IN. (Using) complementary and alternative medicine: The perceptions of palliative patients with cancer. J Palliat Med.2008;11(1):58-67.
33. O’Beirne M, Verhoef M, Paluck E, Herbert C. Complementary therapy use by cancer patients. Physicians’ perceptions, attitudes, and ideas. Can Fam Physician. 2004;50:882-888.
34. Lundberg PC, Rattanasuwan O. Experiences of fatigue and self-management of Thai buddhist cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Cancer Nurs. 2007;30(2):146-155.
35. Lundberg PC, Trichorb K. Thai Buddhist patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy: Feelings, coping, and satisfaction with nurse-provided education and support. Cancer Nurs. 2001;24(6):469-475.
36. Sowattanangoon N, Kochabhakdi N, Petrie KJ. Buddhist values are associated with better diabetes control in Thai patients. Int J Psychiatry Med.2009;38(4):481-491.
2. Srivatanakul P, Attasara P. Cancer incidence and leading site. Cancer in Thailand Vol. IV, 1998-2000; 7-21. [cited 2015 Jan 8]. Available from http://www.nci.go.th/ File_download/Cancer%20In%20Thailand%20IV/CII-01.PDF.
3. Khuhaprema T, Srivatanakul P, Attasara P, Sriplung H, Wiangnon S, Sumitsawan Y. Cancer in Thailand Vol. V, 2001-2003.[cited 2015 Jan 8]. Available from http:// www.nci.go.th/File_download/Nci%20Cancer%20 Registry/Book%20Cancer%20In%20Thailand%20 2010%20for%20Web.pdf.
4. Dunn LB, Langford DJ, Paul SM, et al. Trajectories of fear of recurrence in women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2015;23(7): 2033-2043.
5. Lauver DR, Connolly-Nelson K, Vang P. Stressors and coping strategies among female cancer survivors after treatments. Cancer Nurs. 2007;30(2):101-111.
6. Costanzo ES, Lutgendorf SK, Mattes ML, et al. Adjusting to life after treatment: Distress and quality of life following treatment for breast cancer. Br J Cancer. 2007;97(12): 1625-1631.
7. Taneerat T. Direction of integrated medical care in cancer patients. [cited 2015 Jan 8]. Available from http://www. dtam.moph.go.th/alternative/downloads/ca_tewan.pdf.
8. Piamjariyakul U, Williams PD, Prapakorn S, et al. Cancer therapy-related symptoms and self-care in Thailand. Eur J Oncol Nurs.2010;14(5):387-394.
9. Wonghongkul T, Dechaprom N, Phumvichuvate L, Kertsang S. Quality of life and alternative therapy used in long-term breast cancer survivors. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Fifth Nursing Academic International Congress: Cultural Diversity in Alternative Health Care and Nursing Therapeutics. Khon Kean, Thailand 2002. [Thai]
10. Sirisupluxana P, Sripichyakan K, Wonhongkul T, Sethabouppha H, Pierce PF. The meaning of complementary therapy from the perspective of Thai women with breast cancer. Nurs Health Sci.2009;11(1):64-70.
11. Rausch SM, Winegardner F, Kruk KM, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine: Use and disclosure in radiation oncology community practice. Support Care Cancer. 2011; 19(4):521-529.
12. Verhoef MJ, Boon HS, Page SA. Talking to cancer patients about complementary therapies: Is it the physician’s responsibility? Curr Oncol.. 2008;15(Suppl.2):88-93.
13. Leininger MM. Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory and evolution of the ethnonursing method. In: M. M. Leininger, McFarland MR, eds. Culture Care Diversity and Universality: A worldwide nursing theory 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett publishes.; 2006:1-41.
14. Wang S-Y.C, Yates, P. Nurses’ responses to people with cancer who use complimentary and alternative medicine. Int J Nurs Pract.2006, 12(5): 288-294.
15. Leininger MM. Ethnonursing: A research method with enablers to study the theory of culture care. In: Leininger MM, McFarland MR, eds. Culture care diversity and universality: A worldwide nursing theory. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2006:43-82.
16. Wanchai A, Armer JM, Stewart BR. Breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of care practices in western and alternative medicine. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2010;37(4):495-500.
17. Kaewvilai W, Wonghongkul T, Vannarit T. Complementary therapy among breast cancer survivors. Nursing J. 2006;33(2):158-171. [Thai]
18. Molassiotis A, Scott JA, Kearney N, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in breast cancer in Europe. Support Care Cancer.2006;14(3):260-267.
19. Yildirim Y. Patterns of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in women with metastatic cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2010;33(3):194-200.
20. Nakasone RY. Eye on religion: Buddhism. Southern Med J. 2007;100:652-653.
21. Sumngern C, Azeredo Z, Subgranon R, Matos E, Kijjoa A. The perception of the benefits of herbal medicine consumption among the Thai elderly. J Nutr Health Aging. 2011;15(1):59-63.
22. Satyapan N, Patarakitvanit S, Temboonkiet S, Vudhironarit T, Tankanitlert J. Herbal medicine: Affecting factors and prevalence of use among Thai population in Bangkok. J Med Assoc Thai.2010;93(Suppl.6):s139-s144.
23. Kang E, Yang EJ, Kim SM, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use and assessment of quality of life in Korean breast cancer patients: A descriptive study. Support Care Cancer.2012;20(3):461-473.
24. Shaharudin SH, Sulaiman S, Emran NA, Shahril MR, Hussain SN.The use of complementary and alternative medicine among Malay breast cancer survivors. Altern Ther Health Med., 2011,17(1):50-56.
25. Balneaves LG, Weeks L, Seely D. Patient decision-making about complementary and alternative medicine in cancer management: Context and process. Curr Oncol. 2008;15 (Suppl.2):S94-S100.
26. Weeks LC, Strudsholm T. A scoping review of research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the mass media: Looking back, moving forward. BMC Complement Altern Med.2008;8.[cited 2015 Jan 8]. Available from http://www.biomedcentral.com/14726882/8/43.
27. Weeks L, Verhoef M, Scott C. Presenting the alternative: Cancer and complementary and alternative medicine in the Canadian print media. Support Care Cancer 2007; 15(8):931–938.
28. Chokevivat V, Chuthaputti A. The role of Thai traditional medicine in health promotion. The 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion. Bangkok 2005:1-25. [Thai]
29. Lu JH, Tsay SL, Sung SC. Taiwanese adult cancer patients’ reports of using complementary therapies. Cancer Nurs. 2010;33(4):320-326.
30. Balneaves LG, Bottorff JL, Hislop TG, Herbert C. Levels of commitment: exploring complementary therapy use by women with breast cancer. J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12(5):459-466.
31. Wong-Kim E, Merighi JR. Complementary and alternative medicine for pain management in U.S. - and foreign-born Chinese women with breast cancer. J Health Care Poor Underserved.2007;18(Suppl.4):118-129.
32. Eliott JA, Kealey CP, Olver IN. (Using) complementary and alternative medicine: The perceptions of palliative patients with cancer. J Palliat Med.2008;11(1):58-67.
33. O’Beirne M, Verhoef M, Paluck E, Herbert C. Complementary therapy use by cancer patients. Physicians’ perceptions, attitudes, and ideas. Can Fam Physician. 2004;50:882-888.
34. Lundberg PC, Rattanasuwan O. Experiences of fatigue and self-management of Thai buddhist cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Cancer Nurs. 2007;30(2):146-155.
35. Lundberg PC, Trichorb K. Thai Buddhist patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy: Feelings, coping, and satisfaction with nurse-provided education and support. Cancer Nurs. 2001;24(6):469-475.
36. Sowattanangoon N, Kochabhakdi N, Petrie KJ. Buddhist values are associated with better diabetes control in Thai patients. Int J Psychiatry Med.2009;38(4):481-491.
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2016-01-25
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Wanchai A, Armer JM, Stewart BR. A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Thai Women with Breast Cancer to Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2016 Jan. 25 [cited 2024 Nov. 6];20(1):60-7. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/29630
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