Background: The popularity of complementary therapies (CT) has grown in Western countries over the last decade. Around 30% of all cancer patients use CT. Its use is associated with higher education and income, a more advanced disease stage, and poor mental health. However, the few studies that have looked specifically at CT use by men with prostate cancer have predominantly been US-based, have only included a limited range of CT; and have not explored the relationship between CT use and mental health status. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of CT use in patients with prostate cancer, to see if differences between users and nonusers of CT existed in mental health status and factors which predict use of CT.
Methods: Patients with a histological diagnosis of prostate cancer who attended out-patient clinics in a London hospital during the past five years were invited to complete a postal questionnaire about their cancer management, attitudes to and use of CT, health related quality of life, disease symptoms and mental health status. All non-responders were followed up three weeks later. Main outcome measures were: use of CT, SF-36, Beck Depression Inventory and UCLA Prostate and Urology Cancer Index.
Results: 284 patients returned questionnaires of the 406 who were eligible to complete, giving a response rate of 70%. 82 of these patients were CT users, thereby giving a prevalence rate of 29%. Further statistical tests will be carried out to see if any difference existed between CT users and non-users on mental health status and other important variables. A logistic regression analysis will be carried out to identify predictors of CT use.
Conclusions: Preliminary analysis showed that prevalence use of CT for UK men with prostate cancer is similar to the uptake of CT for patients with other cancer diagnosis.