Farooqui, Maryam
(2013)
Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicines Among
Cancer Patients In Penang, Malaysia: A Qualitative And
Quantitative Assessment Of Health Beliefs, Treatment
Disclosure And Health Related Quality Of Life.
PhD thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) is widespread for general
health maintenance and management of disease symptoms. In Malaysia, there is evidence
that a variety of CAM is used by patients with cancer. Cancer patients tend to use CAM in
an attempt to reduce cancer recurrence and to lessen the side effects due to conventional
therapies. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of health beliefs,
treatment disclosure and health related quality of life of cancer patients in the context of
CAM. A mixed methodological approach using both qualitative and quantitative methods
was adapted. The thematic content analysis identified three major themes: patients’ beliefs
towards cancer and its treatment, patients’ perceptions toward the use of CAM for cancer
treatment and the disclosure of CAM use to the health care providers. Twenty patients
were interviewed, twelve of them reported to use CAM while only four disclosed it to the
doctors. The slow progression of CAM effectiveness and cost were given as barrier to
CAM use. Patients agreed that CAM disclosure is important to avoid any interaction with
the conventional medicines.
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