Evaluating the effectiveness of complementary therapies

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Abstract
The use of complementary therapies in patients with advanced cancer has increased in recent years. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of complementary therapies amongst such patients. Those studies which exist have used quality of life measures namely the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) or the Holmes and Dickerson instrument in conjunction with psychological measures, either the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) or the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Practical and methodological issues relating to the use of such scales are considered. It is suggested that while these scales have been tested for reliability and validity and thus appear to be scientifically well constructed they were not designed to measure the effects of complementary therapies on quality of life. In particular, their ability to provide an holistic assessment is questioned and the inappropriateness of some questions is considered.

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