Objective:
From a patient-centered perspective, this study sought to explore cancer patient experiences using integrative health techniques, while undergoing or after having completed conventional cancer therapy.
Methods:
Recruitment and data collection both occurred within the Supportive Care Medicine Department of a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. The primary collection method was semi-structured interviews, of which 13 were conducted.
Results:
Patients using integrative therapies experienced a variety of physical and mental/emotional benefits from their chosen therapy, such as management of lymphedema and nerve damage, increased mobility, and improved self-confidence.
Conclusion:
Integrative therapies can provide many benefits to patients in mitigating treatment side effects and other cancer related symptoms. CAM practitioners themselves played an important role in post-treatment cancer support; both by acting as a health educator and by administrating the therapy itself.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USF/oai:scholarcommons.usf.edu:etd-8674 |
| Date | 31 October 2018 |
| Creators | Bockover, Spencer R. |
| Publisher | Scholar Commons |
| Source Sets | University of South Flordia |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
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