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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Michael S. Goldstein, PhD¹, Jennifer Lee, MPH¹, E. Richard Brown, PhD¹, Rachel Ballard-Barbash, MD, MPH², and Anita Ambs, MPH². (1) Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095, 3108255116, msgoldst@ucla.edu, (2) Applied Research Programs, National Cancer Institute, MSC 7344, 6130 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 202892

Information about individuals with cancer who use CAM is largely based on patient-based studies. We present findings on this topic drawn from the 2004 CAM supplement to the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (N=55,428) that includes data from 1817 individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.) The use (past 12 months) of 11 CAM providers, 8 unconventional cancer treatments, 4 mind-body techniques, 33 dietary supplements, 4 spiritual techniques, special diets, and support groups was assessed for those with cancer of the breast (n=466), prostate (n=238) and other sites (n=1114). Over half the respondents have used a CAM provider at some point since their diagnosis, and the use of non-provider based forms of CAM is high. Those with prostate cancer are relatively less likely to use many forms of CAM. The use of support groups is highest among women with breast cancer. Over 85% of all respondents report using at least 2 dietary supplements. Almost all CAM users remain in treatment with conventional physicians (about 90% of whom are specialists), and believe they have benefited from their use of CAM.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants in this session will be able to; recognize the limitationsof existing studies of CAM use among those with cancer, understand the advantagee of using representative population-based data to study this issue, describe the relative frequency with which California adults use a wide array of CAM modalities to treat and respond to a diagnosis of cancer, assess the potential utility of such information to clinicians and policy-makers.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation