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The experience of using complementary therapies after a diagnosis of cancer: a qualitative synthesis

The experience of using complementary therapies after a diagnosis of cancer: a qualitative synthesis
The experience of using complementary therapies after a diagnosis of cancer: a qualitative synthesis
This article describes a qualitative synthesis of published research on cancer patients’ experiences of complementary therapies. We conducted a systematic search for qualitative studies on this subject published between 1998 and 2007. Twenty-six refereed journal articles met the inclusion criteria. These 26 articles were repeatedly read by the research team and key concepts emerging from them were identified. Differences and variations were examined in association with treatment, therapy type and by stage of cancer (early stage, mid-treatment, advanced cancer, palliative care and long term ‘survivors’). Six overarching concepts were located, which describe the key aspects of patients’ experiences of the use of complementary and alternative medicine after a diagnosis of cancer: Connection; Control; Well-being; Transformation; Integration; and Polarization. These are described in a ‘line of argument’ synthesis, and differences associated with treatment type and stage of disease are noted. The findings are presented in a table showing the six concepts according to treatment type and stage; as a composite story; and in a diagrammatic model showing the individual, practitioner and organizational levels. The synthesis identified various specific ways in which complementary therapies supported cancer patients, as well as occasional negative effects. The most notable barrier was the perceived polarization of complementary therapies and biomedicine; patients reported better experiences in integrated settings
cancer, complementary therapies, patient experience, qualitative, synthesis
1363-4593
19-39
Smithson, Janet
c759d9fa-bf65-4358-a655-d85b26a7efd7
Britten, Nicky
68f95423-a4ec-4e8d-afe9-1ed72a5b11e1
Paterson, Charlotte
40b57130-2313-4f6e-842d-5f8ee280a194
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f
Smithson, Janet
c759d9fa-bf65-4358-a655-d85b26a7efd7
Britten, Nicky
68f95423-a4ec-4e8d-afe9-1ed72a5b11e1
Paterson, Charlotte
40b57130-2313-4f6e-842d-5f8ee280a194
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f

Smithson, Janet, Britten, Nicky, Paterson, Charlotte, Lewith, George and Evans, Maggie (2012) The experience of using complementary therapies after a diagnosis of cancer: a qualitative synthesis. Health, 16 (1), 19-39. (doi:10.1177/1363459310371081). (PMID:21177711)

Record type: Article

Abstract

This article describes a qualitative synthesis of published research on cancer patients’ experiences of complementary therapies. We conducted a systematic search for qualitative studies on this subject published between 1998 and 2007. Twenty-six refereed journal articles met the inclusion criteria. These 26 articles were repeatedly read by the research team and key concepts emerging from them were identified. Differences and variations were examined in association with treatment, therapy type and by stage of cancer (early stage, mid-treatment, advanced cancer, palliative care and long term ‘survivors’). Six overarching concepts were located, which describe the key aspects of patients’ experiences of the use of complementary and alternative medicine after a diagnosis of cancer: Connection; Control; Well-being; Transformation; Integration; and Polarization. These are described in a ‘line of argument’ synthesis, and differences associated with treatment type and stage of disease are noted. The findings are presented in a table showing the six concepts according to treatment type and stage; as a composite story; and in a diagrammatic model showing the individual, practitioner and organizational levels. The synthesis identified various specific ways in which complementary therapies supported cancer patients, as well as occasional negative effects. The most notable barrier was the perceived polarization of complementary therapies and biomedicine; patients reported better experiences in integrated settings

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 22 December 2010
Published date: January 2012
Keywords: cancer, complementary therapies, patient experience, qualitative, synthesis
Organisations: Primary Care & Population Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 207599
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/207599
ISSN: 1363-4593
PURE UUID: 3c447e89-1242-4bf8-8c57-d35c1467acbd

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Date deposited: 13 Jan 2012 10:17
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:40

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Contributors

Author: Janet Smithson
Author: Nicky Britten
Author: Charlotte Paterson
Author: George Lewith
Author: Maggie Evans

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