Applied Nursing Research
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 41-47, February 2004

Patterns of complementary therapy use by homebound cancer patients in Taiwan

  • Chang Li-chun, RN, MSN (Instructor)

      Affiliations

    • Chang Gung Institute of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Li I-chuan, RN, DSN (Associate Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Community Health Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Li I-chuan, Institute of Community Health Nursing, National Yang Ming University, 155 Linong Street, Sec. 2, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.

Abstract 

This study explores the use of complementary therapy and factors associated with the use of such therapies by cancer patients in Taiwan who were receiving surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy and lived at home. Data were collected by purposive sampling and analyzed by chi-square testing. Subjects (N = 137) from two Taipei area hospital-based oncology centers were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Sixty percent of the total sample used complementary therapies. Variables, such as gender, duration of illness, diagnostic stages, chemotherapy, and symptoms distress, were significantly (p < .05) related to the use of complementary therapies. Western health professionals need to know what complementary therapies their clients are using so that they can respond appropriately to questions raised by their clients, as well as help them to acknowledge diverse kinds of treatment in their therapeutic plans.

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PII: S0897-1897(03)00105-8

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2003.10.006

Applied Nursing Research
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 41-47, February 2004

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