Lots of CAM-Used Patients but A Few of CAM-Concerned Physicians

Objective: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients prevails in Taiwan, especially among those who inflict incurable diseases such as cancer. Even though good patient-physician communication makes medical care processes and outcomes better was well-known, but we still know little about the relationship between patient-physician communication and CAM use. This study aims to explore if doctor actively initiating CAM use issues and the influences on patients' CAM utilization. Material s and Methods: We conducted this research on a medical center in Taiwan in 2010. This study collected data among oncology patients by means of face-to-face interviews or self-administered questionnaire which focuses on the following aspects of CAM utilization on therapeutic modes which are used and patient-physician interaction related to CAM use. Results: 511 participants were recruited and 222 (43.4%) of them used CAM. Meanwhile, only 41(8.0%) participants had been asked about CAM use behaviors by their physicians. Those patients who had been asked by physician were more likely to be worried about using CAM (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.04-5.70), the reasons that made them concerned include the effectiveness of CAM, negative interaction between conventional medicine and opposed/ displeasured attitude about CAM utilization of their physician.