When faced with a cancer diagnosis and prognosis, an important decision that patients and their families face is treatment options. It isn't unusual for some people to consider the possibility of complementary therapies, and a joint study of the BC Cancer Agency and University of British Columbia is trying to determine how patients reach decisions about complementary therapies.
Tracy Truant, a nursing leader at the BC Cancer Agency, and Dr. Lynda Balneaves, assistant professor of nursing at UBC, are trying to understand how breast and prostate cancer patients make decision about complementary therapies. Their research will help to develop educational services on this issue for patients and their families.
"We know that people are using these therapies, but we don't know what their knowledge about these therapies is," says Balneaves. "We want to access people who have considered therapies such as nutritional supplements, naturopathy, and spiritual care. We want to find out what their information needs are, and how to address them."
Previous studies have shown that a significant number of Canadians diagnosed with breast or prostate cancers include complementary therapies as part of their treatment plan.
"It reflects society's move towards more patient-driven care," explains Truant. "We want to be able to direct people to reliable, evidence-based information and options. This study is a way to find out the kinds of information people need to make confident, informed decisions about complementary therapies, and then to develop a way to direct them to reliable, complementary care resources."
To date, the team has recruited 26 patient participants - but they need another 10 to complete the study in the next two months. Specifically, the team is looking for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and are at the 'watchful waiting' stage; that is, they haven't yet pursued treatment, but would consider complementary or alternative therapies should their come a time when treatment is necessary.
The researchers are also interested in talking to family members to find out about their experience of supporting patients about treatment decisions related to complementary therapies.
Study participants are visited by a research assistant who asks a variety of questions about how they heard about complementary therapies, the types they might be considering, and what sort of information they would consider useful in making decisions about such therapies. People interested in participating can call 604.822.5061.
This study has been funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance.
The BC Cancer Agency, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation supports research and care at the BC Cancer Agency and BC Cancer Research Centre.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Nicole Adams
Public Relations Officer
BC Cancer Agency
Tel: 604.877.6272
Or
Hilary Thomson
Senior Communications Coordinator
UBC Public Affairs
Tel: 604.822.2644