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Peterson J, Wilson T, Gruhl J, Davis S, Olsen J, Parsons M, Kann B, Fagerlin A, Watt M, Johnson S. Timing and Motivations for Alternative Cancer Therapy: Insights from a Crowdfunding Platform (Preprint). JMIR Cancer 2021; 8:e34183. [PMID: 35671074 PMCID: PMC9214612 DOI: 10.2196/34183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alternative cancer therapy is associated with increased mortality, but little is known about those who pursue it. Objective We aimed to describe individuals’ motivations for using alternative cancer therapies and determine whether motivations differ based on individuals’ timing of seeking alternative therapies. Methods We used data from 649 campaigns posted on the website GoFundMe between 2011 and 2019 for beneficiaries with cancer pursuing alternative therapy. The data were analyzed using a mixed methods approach. Campaigns were categorized by timing of alternative therapy (either before or after experiencing conventional therapy). Qualitative analysis identified motivational themes. Chi-square tests of independence and Fisher tests (all 2-sided) determined significant differences in the presence of motivational themes between groups. Results The expression of concerns about the efficacy of conventional therapy was significantly more likely in campaigns for individuals who used conventional therapy first than in campaigns for individuals who started with alternative therapy (63.3% vs 41.7%; P<.001). Moreover, on comparing those who started with alternative therapy and those who switched from conventional to alternative therapy, those who started with alternative therapy more often expressed natural and holistic values (49.3% vs 27.0%; P<.001), expressed an unorthodox understanding of cancer (25.5% vs 16.4%; P=.004), referenced religious or spiritual beliefs (15.1% vs 8.9%; P=.01), perceived alternative treatment as efficacious (19.1% vs 10.2%; P=.001), and distrusted pharmaceutical companies (3.2% vs 0.5%; P=.04). Conclusions Individuals sought treatments that reflected their values and beliefs, even if scientifically unfounded. Many individuals who reported prior conventional cancer therapy were motivated to pursue alternative treatments because they perceived the conventional treatments to be ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Peterson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Trevor Wilson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Joshua Gruhl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Sydney Davis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jaxon Olsen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Matthew Parsons
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Benjamin Kann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Angela Fagerlin
- Department of Population Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City Health Cancer System, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Melissa Watt
- Department of Population Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Skyler Johnson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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