Use of complementary and alternative medicine by lung cancer patients in Korea: A qualitative study

Introduction An increasing number of cancer patients, including those with lung cancer, use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to their cancer treatment. As qualitative studies documenting the quality of life (QoL) of lung cancer patients using CAM is limited, this study focused on exploring perceived changes in QoL of lung cancer patients following their experiences of CAM treatment. Methods In 2013, in-depth semi-structured tape recorded interviews were conducted with 15 Korean lung cancer patients who had reported a CAM treatment experiences in a Korean medical hospital specializing in cancer. The transcriptions were analyzed using NVivo10, and patients’ experience of cancer was investigated using van Manen's four fundamental existential categories which relate to lifeworld experiences. Results Patients exhibited the greatest change in two of the categories; ‘lived body’ and ‘lived relations’. Three final themes were identified, ‘loss of self’, ‘being the same as before’, and ‘revitalization’. Cancer diagnosis accelerated the loss of ‘self’ but also gave patients a chance to concentrate on and regain ‘self’. Participants demonstrated that ‘being the same as before’ was the most important factor for quality of life and also for treatment decisions. CAM treatment was deemed acceptable when the patients felt revitalized and they were able to live as before and when they were respected. Conclusion As CAM gave a chance for patients to concentrate on ‘self’ and regain the will to continue with treatment, CAM potentially improves lung cancer patients’ QoL. Effective application of CAM during cancer treatment should be investigated.