Individualised and complex experiences of integrative cancer support care: combining qualitative and quantitative data
- 13 January 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Supportive Care in Cancer
- Vol. 17 (9), 1159-1167
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-008-0565-3
Abstract
The widespread use of complementary therapies alongside biomedical treatment by people with cancer is not supported by evidence from clinical trials. We aimed to use combined qualitative and quantitative data to describe and measure individualised experiences and outcomes. In three integrative cancer support centres (two breast cancer only) in the UK, consecutive patients completed the individualised outcome questionnaire Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) before and after treatment. MYCaW collects quantitative data (seven-point scales) and written qualitative data and the qualitative data were analysed using published categories. Seven hundred eighty-two participants, 92% female, mean age 51 years, nominated a wide range of concerns. Psychological and emotional concerns predominated. At follow-up, the mean change (improvement) in scores (n = 588) were: concern 1, 2.06 (95% CI 1.92–2.20); concern 2, 1.74 (95% CI 1.60–1.90); and well-being, 0.64 (95% CI 0.52–0.75). The most common responses to ‘what has been the most important aspect for you?’ were ‘receiving complementary therapies on an individual or group basis’ (26.2%); ‘support and understanding received from therapists’ (17.1%) and ‘time spent with other patients at the centres’ (16.1%). Positive (61.5%) and negative (38.5%) descriptions of ‘other things affecting your health’ correlated with larger and smaller improvement in concerns and well-being, respectively. In a multicentre evaluation, the MYCaW questionnaire provides rich data about patient experience, changes over time and perceptions of what was important to each individual with cancer within that experience. It is unlikely that meaningful evaluations of this complex intervention could be carried out by quantitative methods alone.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluating healing for cancer in a community setting from the perspective of clients and healers: A pilot studyComplementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2007
- Decisions to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by male cancer patients: information-seeking roles and types of evidence usedBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007
- The Process of Whole Person Healing: “Unstuckness” and BeyondThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2007
- Evaluating supportive cancer care: are we missing an opportunity?Supportive Care in Cancer, 2007
- Integrative Health Care: How Can We Determine Whether Patients Benefit?The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2005
- Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients: a European surveyAnnals of Oncology, 2005
- Surveys of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Part II. Use of Alternative and Complementary Cancer TherapiesThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2001
- Assessing patient outcomes in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: The measure your medical outcome profile (MYMOP), medical outcomes study 6-item general health survey (MOS-6A) and EuroQol (EQ-5D)Quality of Life Research, 2000
- Measuring outcomes in primary care: a patient generated measure, MYMOP, compared with the SF-36 health surveyBMJ, 1996
- Determining a minimal important change in a disease-specific quality of life questionnaireJournal of Clinical Epidemiology, 1994