ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2023
The intention of utilization and experience toward traditional Chinese medicine among breast cancer patients in the early and late stages: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Factors influencing the utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine in cancer treatment: a qualitative meta-synthesis of patient and healthcare professional perspectives.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Gancao Ganjiang Decoction Inhibits Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via PI3K-AKT and JAK-STAT Signaling Pathways.Chinese journal of integrative medicine · 2026Article
- Association between the fear of cancer recurrence and Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution in breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2026Article
- Beneficial effect of adjuvant traditional Chinese medicine therapy on body constitution symptoms and quality of life among breast cancer patients.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Perceived value and educational implications of traditional Chinese medicine nursing: a mixed-methods study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Preferences for Non-Pharmacological Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Review
- Understanding factors influencing the adoption of moxibustion techniques by the population: an extended study based on the UTAUT model.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Traditional Chinese medicine for breast cancer treatment: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.Pharmaceutical biology · 2024Review
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Taiwan, breast cancer patients usually take conventional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine simultaneously. The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine among breast cancer patients at various stages has not been examined. This study aims to compare the intention of utilization and experience toward traditional Chinese medicine among early- and late-stage breast cancer patients.
methodThis qualitative research collected data from breast cancer patients through focus groups interview by convenience sampling. Conducted in 2 branches of Taipei City Hospital, a public hospital managed by the Taipei City government. Breast cancer patients > 20 years old and had used TCM for breast cancer therapy for at least 3 months were included in the interview. A semi-structured interview guide was adopted in each focus group interview. In the following data analysis, stages I and II were considered early-stage, and stages III and IV were late-stage. For analyzing the data and reporting the results, we used qualitative content analysis as the approach for data analysis, assisted by NVivo 12. Categories and subcategories were identified through content analysis.
resultsTwelve and seven early- and late-stage breast cancer patients were included in this study, respectively. The side effects were the main intention of utilizing traditional Chinese medicine. Improving side effects and constitution was the main benefit for patients in both stages. Additionally, early-stage breast cancer patients used traditional Chinese medicine to prevent recurrence or metastasis. Late-stage breast cancer patients responded more frequently to the use of traditional Chinese medicine due to the side effects of western medicine. However, some of their symptoms were not fully relieved.
conclusionsBreast cancer staging may influence the intention and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine. Health policymakers should consider the results of this research and the evidence-based illustrations to establish guidelines for integrating traditional Chinese medicine among various stages of breast cancer to improve the outcome and quality of care for cancer patients.
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