Perspectives of Complementary and Alternative Medicine use by cancer patients in a regional hospital in North Queensland, Australia.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate CAMs used, and reasons for and disclosure of this use by cancer patients in a regional hospital in North Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Patients attending the Day Oncology Unit of the Townsville University Hospital were invited to participate in a self-completed questionnaire or telephone interview regarding perspectives of their CAM use. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared and independent t-tests were performed to allow comparison between the responses by CAM users and non-users.

Complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer: A systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in cancer is increasing. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature to determine demographic profiles and prevalence and reasons for use in cancer patients.

Methods: In this systematic review, the databases OVID, PubMed, and Scopus were searched for studies on CAM use in cancer between 2009 and June 2018.

Delays in lung cancer management pathways between rural and urban patients in North Queensland: a mixed methods study.

Background: Despite advances in medical therapies, disparity in outcome between rural and urban patients remain in Australia and many Western countries.

Aims: To examine time delays in lung cancer referral pathways in North Queensland (NQ), Australia, and explore patients' perspective of factors causing these delays.

Methods: Prospective study of patients attending three cancer centres in Townsville, Cairns and Mackay in NQ from 2009 to 2012.

Teleoncology for indigenous patients: the responses of patients and health workers.

Problem: Townsville Cancer Centre provides video-consultation (VC) services to patients in rural/remote regions of North Queensland in order to improve access to specialist cancer care. The experience and responses of indigenous patients using this service have not been studied. Our objective is to assess the level of satisfaction and the responses of Indigenous patients, their families and health workers (HWs) to VC and such teleoncology service.