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Table 1 Demographic and medical characteristics of study participants

From: Characteristics and quality of life of patients presenting to cancer support centres: patient rated outcomes and use of complementary therapies

Variable

n = 95

Variable

n = 95

Demographic profile

 

Medical profile

 

Gender

 

Cancer site

 

  Male

33 (34.7%)

  Breast

22 (23.2%)

  Female

62 (65.2%)

  Gynaecological

11 (11.6%)

Age (±SD; range)

60.49 (12.65; 28–87)

  Colorectal

9 (9.5%)

  25-34

1 (1.1%)

  Prostate

8 (8.4%)

  35-44

10 (10.5%)

  Kidney

4 (4.2%)

  45-54

23 (24.2%)

  Lung

6 (6.3%)

  55-64

20 (21.1%)

  Haematological

7 (7.4%)

  65-74

28 (29.5%)

  Head and neck

6 (6.5%)

  75+

13 (13.7%)

  Brain

6 (6.3%)

Employment

 

  Melanomas

4 (4.2%)

  Not employed

13 (13.7%)

  Pancreatic

3 (3.2%)

  Casual

5 (5.3%)

  Bone

3 (3.2%)

  Part time

10 (10.5%)

  Stomach

1 (1.1%)

  Full time

3 (3.2%)

  Don’t know

5 (5.3%)

  Sick Leave

19 (20.0%)

Allied health professionals consulted

 

  Months on sick leave (±SD; range)

6.55 (4.17; 0.5-16)

  Psychologist/counsellors

23 (24.2%)

  Retired

45 (47.4%)

  Physiotherapy/chiropractic

13 (13.7%)

  Retired since diagnosis

19 (20%)

  Yoga/pilates/exercise

11 (11.6%)

Physical activity level

n = 92

  Medical specialist

11 (11.6%)

  Low

48 (52.2%)

  Support group

10 (10.5%)

  Moderate

36 (39.1%)

  Naturopath/herbalist

10 (10.5%)

  High

8 (8.7%)

  Dietician/nutritionist

8 (8.4%)

Days of activity

 

Supplement use

62 (65.9%)

  < 5 days a week

46 (50%)

  Self-selected

27 (28.4%)

  ≥ 5 days a week

46 (50%)

  Prescribed

23 (24.2%)

  

  Self-selected and prescribed

12 (12.6%)

  

  Don’t know

1 (1.1%)