Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36073533›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2023

Perceptions about traditional Chinese medicine use among Chinese breast cancer survivors: A qualitative study.

Yik-Laam Hung, Siu-Sing Leung, Siu-Ting Pamela Chiu, Pik-Yi Li, Anson Chi-On Kan, Chi-Chung Lo, Sze-Yuen Zeta Wong, Sze-Lam Luk, Cheuk-Lam Charlotte Lai, Aya El Helali and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Yik-Laam HungLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0001-8151-0640
Siu-Sing LeungLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Siu-Ting Pamela ChiuLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Pik-Yi LiLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Anson Chi-On KanLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0002-1601-7152
Chi-Chung LoLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Sze-Yuen Zeta WongLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Sze-Lam LukLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Cheuk-Lam Charlotte LaiLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Aya El HelaliDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0001-6427-114X
Wendy Wing-Lok ChanDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0001-9793-9273
University of Hong Kong · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAn increasing number of breast cancer survivors (BCS) use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) throughout their cancer journey. There is emerging evidence that TCM is effective in the reducing side effects of chemotherapy. However, qualitative patient-centric and culturally relevant research into TCM use is scant. This qualitative study aimed to explore the use and perceptions of Chinese Hong Kong BCS using TCM.

methodsParticipants were recruited from a university hospital and three breast cancer patient groups in Hong Kong. Questionnaires regarding the use of TCM were given to all participants, followed by individual semi-structured interviews on selected BCS to comprehensively understand TCM's use and perceptions. A greater emphasis was placed on the qualitative data.

resultsAbout half of the participants (n = 67, 48.9%) used TCM during their cancer treatment journey, among which almost all (n = 64, 95.5%) had improved symptoms. Sleeping disturbances (n = 58, 86.6%) and fatigue (n = 53, 79.1%) were the two most common symptoms that improved after TCM. Interview data revealed that participants used TCM to satisfy unmet needs that mainstream conventional Western medicine could not fulfil. They wished for a sense of control and better well-being. They expressed improvements in physical and psychological well-being after the use of TCM. Despite existing barriers, including high cost, long duration of treatment, and disapproval from oncologists, most would still recommend TCM to fellow survivors.

conclusionsChinese Hong Kong BCS who used TCM reported positive experiences. Understanding how BCS perceive and use TCM is important to integrating TCM into survivorship care in this population.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsFemaleHong KongHumansMedicine, Chinese TraditionalSurvivorsbreast cancerhormone therapyQOLquality of lifesurvival

Identifiers

PMID36073533
PMCPMC9883569
OpenAlexW4294991641

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.