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Complementary medicine and recovery from cancer: the importance of post‐traumatic growth
Author(s) -
Skaczkowski G.,
Hayman T.,
Strelan P.,
Miller J.,
Knott V.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12053
Subject(s) - medicine , traumatic stress , distress , psychological intervention , anxiety , quality of life (healthcare) , posttraumatic growth , depression (economics) , cancer , clinical psychology , hospital anxiety and depression scale , scale (ratio) , psychiatry , nursing , physics , quantum mechanics , economics , macroeconomics
Many users of C omplementary and A lternative M edicines ( CAMs ) claim that participation leads to improved well‐being; however, contradictory evidence exists, with some studies linking CAM use with poorer quality of life ( QoL ) or increased distress. This study explored whether an individual's experience of post‐traumatic growth ( PTG ) following cancer may play a role in explaining these disparate outcomes. One hundred and sixty‐one cancer survivors (mean age = 58.96, SD = 12.12) completed measures comprised of PTG (Post‐Traumatic Growth Inventory), CAM use, QoL ( F unctional A ssessment of C ancer T herapy scale + F unctional A ssessment of C hronic I llness T herapy S piritual W ell‐ B eing S cale), post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms ( I mpact of E vent S cale R evised) and depression, anxiety and stress (21‐item short‐form D epression A nxiety S tress S cale). A multiple regression controlling for gender, age, general and cancer‐specific distress indicated support for PTG as a mediator of the relationship between CAM and QoL . An individual's experience of PTG following cancer may be an important determinant of gaining benefit from participation in CAMs . Future research aimed at identifying potential facilitators of PTG may result in increased benefits of interventions aimed at improving adjustment among cancer survivors.