Survey of cancer researchers regarding complementary and alternative medicine.

Survey of cancer researchers regarding complementary and alternative medicine. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008;6(1):2-12 Authors: Smith WB, Olaku O, Michie J, White JD Abstract The primary purpose of this survey was to assess the interest and concerns of a group of cancer researchers regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research issues. These issues include cancer researchers' perceptions of the most promising areas of cancer CAM research, their needs for support, the perceived obstacles to carrying out research objectives in the emerging field of cancer CAM research, and their level of interest in research collaboration with CAM practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of cancer researchers interested in CAM was conducted. Three hundred twenty-one respondents completed the survey, and 298 of them had participated in cancer research. About 85% of the respondents had participated in cancer CAM research. For all CAM categories, the percentage of respondents who would like to conduct research was greater than the percentage of those who have already done so. About two-thirds of the respondents rated research in pharmacologic and biologic treatments and nutritional therapeutics for cancer treatment and symptom/side-effect management as high-priority areas. The obstacle considered to be the most significant by the greatest percentage of the respondents (26.7%) was the lack of success in receiving research...
Source: Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: J Soc Integr Oncol Source Type: research