The use of complementary therapies among breast and prostate cancer patients in Finland.

This study describes the use of complementary therapies (CTs) among breast (women) and prostate cancer patients (men) in Finland. The data were collected using a self-administered postal questionnaire. Responses were received from 216 women (response rate 54.9%) and 190 men (response rate 55.4%). Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and Fisher and Wilcoxon tests. Interpretation of the responses to the open-ended questions used the method of content analysis. Half the respondents (women 53%, men 50%) were interested in CTs. Women (59%) had seriously considered using CTs significantly (P = 0.006) more often than men (44%). Among the women and men who had considered the option, CT use was not started because there was not enough scientific evidence (women 56%, men 77%) or because conventional treatments had worked well enough (women 45%, men 70%). Almost one-third of all women (30%) and men (28%) either continued to use or started using CTs after they had fallen ill with cancer. They resorted to CTs in order to restore their hope in the future (women 36%, men 36%) and to do as much as they could for themselves (women 46%, men 29%). The results indicate that cancer patients are interested in CTs and use them quite frequently. This presents a major challenge to official health care: how should cancer patients be supported in the care relationship to make an informed decision about using CTs; what kind of advice should they be given; and how can patients' individual requirements be adequately met in nursing care?