부산대학교 도서관

A systematic review of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with cancer reported an average use of 31% across thirteen countries, although the range was wide (7–64%). Many patients experience distress following the diagnosis of cancer and wish to pursue methods that they believe might help them to feel more relaxed and in control, as well as minimise treatment side effects. This chapter focuses on three such interventions: relaxation therapy, visualisation, and hypnotherapy. Like drugs, these interventions have indications, contraindications, and cautions. It is important that practitioners are familiar with these before attempting to utilise them for cancer patients. These interventions all share some non-specific factors including a healing ritual, a helping relationship, hope, suggestion, and expectation of change. However, there are a number of important theoretical and practical differences, which are described in this chapter.