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PurposeComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common amongst cancer patients. However, there is growing concern about its safety and efficacy. Online crowdfunding campaigns represent a unique avenue to understand the cancer patient’s perspective for using CAM or declining conventional cancer therapy (CCT).MethodsFive hundred GoFundMe campaigns from 2012 to 2019 detailing financial need for cancer treatment were randomly selected and reviewed for endorsement of CAM use, reasons for using CAM, and reasons for declining CCT. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient and campaign characteristics between 250 CAM users and 250 non-CAM users.ResultsCompared to non-CAM users, CAM users were more likely to be female (70% vs. 54%, p < 0.01), to report more stage IV cancer (54% vs. 12%, p < 0.01), and to have a history of delayed, missed, or misdiagnosis (10% vs. 4%, p < 0.01). Reasons for using CAM include endorsing curative/therapeutic effects 212 (85%), pain/stress reduction 137 (55%), and dissatisfaction with current or past medical treatment options 105 (42%). 87 (35%) CAM users that declined CCT reported that they wanted to try to fight off cancer using CAM first 57 (61%), that CCT was too “toxic” to the body 39 (42%), and cancer was already too advanced, so that CCT would be futile or too aggressive 25 (27%).ConclusionCancer patients on GoFundMe using CAM highly value quality of life, comfort, and autonomy. Physicians should educate themselves on CAM to set realistic expectations and provide comprehensive counseling of the risks and benefits of CAM usage to patients who choose to use CAM to either augment or completely replace CCT.

AimThis study aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of global prevalence and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use amongst adults with diabetes.MethodsNine databases, including MEDLINE and EMBASE, were searched for studies published between 2009 and 2019 which included extractable data for CAM use in adult patients with diabetes. Study characteristics, types of CAM, and overall and subgroup prevalence data in relation to CAM use were extracted. Meta-analysis of aggregate level data on prevalence and prevalence ratios (PRs) was performed using a random effects model.ResultsFrom the 38 studies included in the review, a total of 37 types of CAM and 223 types of herbs were identified. Pooled prevalence of CAM use was 51%. A wide variation in prevalence rates (predictive interval 8–93%) was observed. In the context of high heterogeneity, we found no evidence that CAM use was associated with gender, chronicity or type of diabetes. Approximately one third of patients did not disclose their use of CAM to healthcare professionals (95% PrI 25%, 97%). Herbal medicines, acupuncture, homoeopathy and spiritual healing were the common CAM types reported.ConclusionsA wide variation in prevalence of CAM use by patients with diabetes was identified. Healthcare professionals should be aware of their patients’ use of CAM to ensure treatment optimization, avoid herb–drug interactions and promote medication adherence in diabetes. Diabetic reviews and clinical guidelines should incorporate exploration of patient use of CAM as many patients do not proactively disclose the use of CAM to their healthcare professionals.RegistrationThe protocol for this study was registered with the Centre for Review and Dissemination (CRD). Protocol registration number CRD42019125036.

\"A cross-cultural scientific examination of common complementary, alternative, and integrative health practices Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Health: A Multicultural Perspective provides a critical analysis of non-allopathic healing practices, including their uses, limitations, and scientific basis. The evidence-based discussion explores complementary, alternative, and integrative health (CAIH) across various cultural and ethnic groups both in the U.S. and internationally, to give you a greater understanding of the different modalities--including a literature-backed examination of proven methods and questionable practices within a cross-cultural framework. Each chapter highlights the scientific analysis of the practices relevant to each group, and guides you toward independent analysis of the risks and benefits of the practices discussed. Emphasizing the student as a future health professional, this book includes case studies, examples, questions, and discussion problems that underscore the role of health educators in educating consumers about CAIH practices. . This book provides a solid background in CAIH for the health professional, through rigorous scientific investigation and a multicultural perspective and. helps medical professionals understand the risks, benefits, and evidence behind these practices so they can provide the best in patient care. Readers will: Understand the concepts underlying complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine Compare the use of alternative healing among various cultural and ethnic groups Delve into the scientific bases of the most commonly-used modalities Explore CAIH within the context of the Affordable Care Act\"-- Provided by publisher.

AbstractsThe outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and subsequent need for disease transmission mitigation efforts have significantly altered the delivery of cancer care (e.g., rise of telemedicine), including within the field of integrative oncology. However, little has been described about how National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers have transformed integrative oncology care delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this commentary is to describe the delivery of integrative oncology clinical services and conduct of research at The Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical services transitioned from an array of in-person appointment-based services, such as acupuncture and massage, and group programs, such as yoga and nutrition seminars to a combination of live-streamed and on-demand virtual group programs and one-on-one virtual appointments for services such as acupressure and self-care massage. Group program volume grew from 2189 in-person program patient visits in the 6 months prior to onset of the COVID pandemic to 16,366 virtual (e.g., live-streamed or on-demand) patient visits in the first 6 months of the pandemic. From a research perspective, two integrative oncology studies, focused on yoga and music therapy, respectively, were transitioned from in-person delivery to a virtual format. Participant accrual to these studies increased after the transition to virtual consent and intervention delivery. Overall, our clinical and research observations at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute suggest that the delivery of virtual integrative oncology treatments is feasible and appealing to patients. Trial Registration: NCT03824860 (Yoga); NCT03709225 (Music Therapy)

The incidence of stroke worldwide is increasing year by year. With the enhancement of public health awareness, people's demand for the quality of stroke rehabilitation is getting higher and higher, so better quality care measures are needed in the treatment of stroke. Based on this, this paper explores the impact of a new type of nursing care measure, the complementary health care model combined with condition tracking, on stroke patients. 238 stroke patients were randomly divided into a conventional group (n=119) and a combined group (n=119). 238 stroke patients were randomly divided into conventional group (n=119) and combined group (n=119). The conventional group received routine care, in which doctors and nursing carried out their own work without cooperation after the patients were admitted to the hospital; the combined group received a complementary health care model and condition tracking, in which doctors and nurses jointly checked the rooms, discussed cases, jointly formulated treatments and nursing care plans, and jointly formulated the patients' discharge and rehabilitation plans after the patients were admitted to the hospital. Before the intervention, at the time of discharge, and 6 months after discharge, the neurological function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Fugl-Meyer (FMA) scale, the cognitive function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and the Measured Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the cognitive function of the patients in both groups was assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSS) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MCA) scale. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to assess self-efficacy, Exercise Adherence Questionnaire (EAQ) to assess adherence to functional exercise and Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQoL-12) to assess the quality of life of patients in both groups, and the self-developed satisfaction with nursing care to assess patients' satisfaction with the care model. Before the intervention, there was no difference in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mental State Examination (MMSE), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Exercise Adherence Questionnaire (EAQ) and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale-12 (SSQoL-12) scores between the two groups (P > .05). At discharge and six months later, NIHSS scores continued to decrease in both groups, with the joint group being lower than the conventional group (P < .05); scores for all other items continued to increase, with the joint being higher than the conventional group (P < .05). Satisfaction with care was higher in the combined group than in the conventional group (P < .05). The complementary healthcare model combined with condition tracking can effectively promote the prognosis of rehabilitation of stroke patients, and has a positive effect in promoting the recovery of neurological and cognitive functions, strengthening self-efficacy, and improving the quality of life, which can be promoted in the clinic.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use over time in a population-based cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).MethodsThe Manitoba IBD Cohort Study is a longitudinal, population-based study of multiple determinants of health outcomes in an IBD cohort. Participants completed semi-annual surveys, and annual in-person interviews. Enquiries about the use of 12 types of CAM service providers and 13 CAM products, based on items from a national survey, were included at months 0, 12, 30 and 54.ResultsOverall, 74% of respondents used a CAM service or product in the 4.5-year period, with approximately 40% using some type of CAM at each time point, and 14% using CAM consistently at every time point. There was a trend for women to use CAM more than men; there was no difference in CAM use between patients with Crohn's disease and those with ulcerative colitis. The most often used CAM services (on average) were massage therapy (30%) and chiropractic (14%), physiotherapy (4%), acupuncture (3.5%) and naturopathy/homeopathy (3.5%). A wide range of CAM products were used, with Lactobacillus acidophilus (8%), fish and other oils (5.5%), glucosamine (4%) and chamomile (3.5%) as the most common. On average, only 18% of consumers used CAM for their IBD, so the majority chose it for other problems. There were no differences in psychological variables between CAM users and non-users.ConclusionsThose with IBD commonly try CAM, although very few use these approaches regularly over the years. CAM is not usually used by patients with IBD for disease management, but clinicians should be aware that many will test the services and products.