Attitudes and barriers towards participation in an acupuncture trial among breast cancer patients: a survey study

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jun J Mao, University of Pennsylvania; Tiffany Tan, University of Pennsylvania; Susan Q Li, University of Pennsylvania; Salimah H Meghani, University of Pennsylvania; Karen Glanz, University of Pennsylvania; Deborah W. Bruner, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Mao et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/14/7
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• ISSN: 1472-6882
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 7
• Grant/Funding Information: American Cancer Society #IRF- 78-002-30; Ms. Tan is supported by a grant from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.; Dr. Mao is also a recipient of the National Institute of Health/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine grants R21 AT004695 and K23004112.; The funding agencies had no role in the design and conduct of the study.
• Keywords: Joint pain; Attitudes; Aromatase inhibitors/*adverse effects; Barriers; Breast neoplasm; Musculoskeletal; Acupuncture; Clinical trial
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Background As breast cancer patients increasingly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), clinical trials are needed to guide appropriate clinical use. We sought to identify socio-demographic, clinical and psychological factors related to willingness to participate (WTP) and to determine barriers to participation in an acupuncture clinical trial among breast cancer patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey study among post-menopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer on aromatase inhibitors at an urban academic cancer center. Results Of the 300 participants (92% response rate), 148 (49.8%) reported WTP in an acupuncture clinical trial. Higher education (p = 0.001), increased acupuncture expectancy (p < 0.001), and previous radiation therapy (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with WTP. Travel difficulty (p = 0.002), concern with experimentation (p = 0.013), and lack of interest in acupuncture (p < 0.001) were significant barriers to WTP. Barriers differed significantly by socio-demographic factors with white people more likely to endorse travel difficulty (p = 0.018) and non-white people more likely to report concern with experimentation (p = 0.024). Older patients and those with lower education were more likely to report concern with experimentation and lack of interest in acupuncture (p < 0.05). Conclusions Although nearly half of the respondents reported WTP, significant barriers to participation exist and differ among subgroups. Research addressing these barriers is needed to ensure effective accrual and improve the representation of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Keywords: Acupuncture; Breast neoplasm; Clinical trial; Aromatase inhibitors/*adverse effects; Musculoskeletal; Joint pain; Attitudes; Barriers