International medical tourism of US cancer patients for alternative cancer treatments: Financial, demographic, and clinical profiles of online crowdfunding campaigns.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous research has found that individuals may travel outside their home countries in pursuit of alternative cancer therapies (ACT). The goal of this study is to compare individuals in the United States who propose plans for travel abroad for ACT, compared with individuals who seek ACT domestically.

Methods

Clinical and treatment data were extracted from campaign descriptions of 615 GoFundMe® campaigns fundraising for individuals in the United States seeking ACT between 2011 and 2019. We examined treatment modalities, treatment location, fundraising metrics, and online engagement within campaign profiles. Clinical and demographic differences between those who proposed international travel and those who sought ACT domestically were examined using two-sided Fisher

SUBMITTER: Peterson J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10134261 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature