TY - JOUR TI - Understanding the use and disclosure of natural products by cancer patients DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3XS5XH6 PY - 2016 AB - Background: Although cancer patients frequently use natural products (NP) to complement conventional oncology treatments and often do not disclose NP use to their healthcare providers, NP use initiated after diagnosis and the biopsychosocial determinants of NP use and disclosure have not been investigated. Purpose: The study purpose was to determine prevalence, patterns, and disclosure of NP use by cancer patients, and apply the Self-Regulation Model (SRM) to understand these behaviors. Methods: Analysis of a sub-set of the data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,226 cancer patients at a NCI–designated comprehensive cancer center within a 12-month period. Descriptive statistics were used for patterns of NP use and disclosure. Survey results were assigned to categories within the SRM and sequential bivariate correlations were performed through the model's dual-arm structure. Results: Among patients with a cancer diagnosis (64.6% female, 87% white, 72.8% married, 75.3% age 50+), 74.1% reported current use of 1 or more NP and 28.2% (n=346) indicated they initiated NP use after being diagnosed with cancer. Female sex (χ2=20.00, p<.001) and higher level of education (χ2=22.41, p=.004) were significantly associated with current NP use. Of the 28.2% (n=346) who initiated NP use post-diagnosis, 55.8% listed one or more NP among the top five CAM therapies that provided the most benefit. Green tea (EGCG, pills)(n=65), multivitamin/mineral (n=56), and selenium (n=18) were most commonly reported to be most beneficial. SRM Illness Representations (IR) dimensions Consequences (rs =.176, p=.014) and Desire to Avoid Suffering (rs =.157, p=.030) were very weakly positively correlated with the coping strategy of Continuation of NP Use. Consequences (rs =.214, p=.003) and Cure/Control (rs =.226, p=.002) positively correlated with disclosure of NP use. Negative (scared, afraid) (rs =-.435, p<.001) and Neutral (rs =-.548, p<.001) emotional IR dimensions and Disclosure were negatively correlated. Disclosure and Illness Outcomes (Treatment and Cancer Status) (rs =-.173, p=.016) were negatively correlated. Conclusions: NP use, post diagnosis initiation of use, and belief of benefit, were high among cancer patients surveyed. Multiple aspects of the SRM were found to be predictive of NP use and disclosure. KW - Health Sciences KW - Oncology KW - Cancer--Alternative treatment LA - eng ER -