Complementary Therapy Used by Hispanic Women During Treatment for Breast Cancer

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to assess Hispanic women’s use of complementary interventions during breast cancer treatment and delineate the association between the most burdensome side effects and the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The researchers examined both descriptive statistics and correlational relationships between side effects and CAM. Data were collected from a convenience sample ( N = 125). The mean age was 54, the educational average was less than 10 years, and the median income level was less than $20,000 per year. CAM was positively correlated with family income. Prayer was used by 93% of the women, humor was used by 83%, and 65% used exercise. The most frequent side effect of hair loss (70%) was the most bothersome side effect. The most burdensome and unmanageable side effects were bowel problems and nausea. Nurses play a key role in offering affordable, culturally appropriate symptom management interventions.