"It's natural so it shouldn't hurt me": Chemotherapy patients' perspectives, experiences, and sources of information of complementary and alternative medicines

Background and purpose: Minimal evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use during chemotherapy is accompanied with a high prevalence of use and nondisclosure to health professionals. This study aimed to explore patients' perspectives, experiences, support needs, and sources of information regarding CAM use during chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Semi-structured interviews with ten adult participants who recently completed chemotherapy treatment at a large hospital in Australia were transcribed verbatim. Three investigators thematically analysed the interviews. Results: These participants receiving chemotherapy valued CAMs as a natural complement to chemotherapy to improve wellbeing, with their use most strongly influenced by past experiences rather than expert advice. Conclusion: Health professionals would benefit from education on how to best inform patients of the potential risks, harms and lack of efficacy for CAM use during chemotherapy in a way that does not lead to patient nondisclosure of CAM use.