JMIR Publications

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 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 two-sided, determined significant differences in the presence of motivational themes between groups.

Results:

Campaigns for individuals who used conventional therapy first were significantly more likely to express concerns about efficacy of conventional therapy (63.3% vs. 41.7%, P<.001). Those who started with alternative therapy (compared to those who later switched from conventional to alternative therapy) more often expressed natural and holistic values (49.3% vs. 27.0%, P<.001), 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 treatment were motivated to pursue alternative treatments because they perceived the conventional treatments to be ineffective.