Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Primary Brain Tumor Population and Its Association with Health-Reported Quality of Life (S18.007)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify the percentage of brain tumor patients using CAMs, the modalities they use, and whether or not there is a significant difference in their HRQoL. BACKGROUND: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) refers to a non-mainstream approach to healthcare. This holistic field of healthcare is growing, not only among the general public, but also in oncology. Use of CAMs occurs in the brain tumor population, but little is known about their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). DESIGN/METHODS: A database of primary brain tumor patients (PRoGREss) from The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, along with demographic and clinical information from patient records was queried retrospectively from December 16, 2013 to February 28, 2014. Data collected via a modified International CAM Questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) assessed CAM usage such as supplements, meditation, massage, yoga, Osteopathy, and Reiki. Assessment of HRQoL included FACT-Br, FACIT-F, and Godin-Leisure surveys. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the relationship between the I-CAM-Q and the HRQoL measures. RESULTS: 845 subjects were identified with the majority using CAM (N=534, 63.2[percnt]) and self-help techniques (N=434, 51.4[percnt]). The most common CAM modalities used were: vitamins/supplements (N=491, 58.1[percnt]), massage (N=85, 10.1[percnt]), herbs (N=62, 7.3[percnt]) and spiritual healing (N=62, 7.3[percnt]) while prayer (N=379, 44.9[percnt]), diet (N=83, 9.8[percnt]) and meditation (N=79, 9.3[percnt]) were the most commonly used self help practices. The usage of CAM or self-help techniques did not have a significant relationship with HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the interest in CAM and self-help practices in the primary brain tumor population. In spite of their prevalence, we find no evidence of an association between the use of CAM or self-help techniques and HRQol. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of these modalities on patient outcome.

Disclosure: Dr. Randazzo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Affronti has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lipp has nothing to disclose. Dr. McSherry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Herndon, II has nothing to disclose. Dr. Flahiff has nothing to disclose. Dr. Miller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Woodring has nothing to disclose. Dr. Freeman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Healy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Minchew has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boulton has nothing to disclose. Dr. DesJardins has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ranjan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vlahovic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Friedman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peters has nothing to disclose.