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Use
of Alternative Therapy
Not a Rejection of MDs
Excerpt
By
Melissa Schorr
NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Women diagnosed with breast cancer are likely to use
some form of complementary medicine such as meditation or herbal
medicines, not because of dissatisfaction with traditional medical
care but to supplement their health, researchers report.
``Women use
complementary and alternative medicines not to reject Western
medicine, but to become a more healthy person,'' lead author Susan
Alferi, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of
Miami at Coral Gables, told Reuters Health. ''They're not seeking
complementary medicine because they're dissatisfied with their
physicians.''
The team of
psychologists talked to a group of 231 women who had been diagnosed
with breast cancer within the past year. The women filled out
a questionnaire asking them whether they had ever used any kind
of complementary therapy, which included healing therapies such
as meditation, acupuncture or herbal medications, and psychological
therapies such as psychotherapy or a support group.
The investigators
found that more than half of the women reported using some form
of complementary medicine. The most popular form of healing therapy
was meditation, which was used by 30% of the women, while only
1% had used acupuncture. Around one third of the women reported
using some type of psychological therapy.
Alferi and
her colleagues also found that black women were more likely to
report using herbal medicines and spiritual healing than other
women. The findings were reported in the summer issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Women's Association. The study was funded
by the National Cancer Institute.
Most significantly,
the researchers found that no evidence that the use of healing
therapies was related to dissatisfaction with medical treatment.
``Physicians
shouldn't be intimidated by complementary medicine,'' Alferi said.
``From what I've noticed, the attitude is becoming, as long as
it doesn't interfere with medical treatment, whatever makes the
patients feel better is fine.''
However, she
noted that patients should always let their doctors know when
they are using herbal medicines, and doctors should ask their
patients if they are using them, in case of possible negative
interactions with prescription medicines.
SOURCE:
Journal of the American Medical Women's Association 2001;56:120-
Reference
Source 89
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