UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Eighty-three percent of cancer patients use complementary therapies to manage symptoms of cancer and side effects of conventional treatment. “Ideal” cancer care may integrate evidence-based complementary therapies with conventional care, but, for now, the burden of exploring options, weighing efficacy versus risks, and coordinating care between providers falls upon the patient. Interactive multimedia can help cancer patients focus on their goals and choose effective complementary therapies throughout their cancer journey

Methods: The Complementary Cancer Care: Your Healing Plan™ CD-ROM serves as an interactive tool that helps cancer patients integrate complementary care with their conventional treatment through goal setting and development of a personalized healing plan. Therapies were chosen based on the evidence for effectiveness in meeting goals that cancer patients have at various stages of their cancer journey (e.g. combat nausea, diminish anxiety, decrease fatigue).

Results: Formative evaluation with 37 cancer patients with varied diagnoses, ages 40-70, indicates that such an approach resulted in significant pre to post changes in knowledge (p<.001), self-efficacy (p<.000) and skill in examining complementary therapies prior to use (p<.000). One-way ANOVA revealed no differences in these scores by age, education and race/ethnicity. These results indicate that it is possible to provide a multimedia product that functions as an interactive tool to help people with cancer learn about, explore and make decisions on the use of evidence-based complementary therapies. The Complementary Therapy: Your Healing Plan CD will be demonstrated during the presentation.