Abstract / Summary
Individuals living with metastatic cancer frequently experience high symptom burden and reduced quality of life, leading many to seek integrative therapies alongside standard care. This study utilized the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to systematically examine patient perspectives and the acceptability of integrative naturopathic oncology. Qualitative, semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with 12 adult metastatic cancer patients who had received at least three months of care at a specialized Canadian clinic. The hybrid inductive-deductive analysis revealed high overall intervention acceptability. Patients reported positive emotional attitudes, strong alignment with personal values, improved treatment understanding, and increased confidence in managing their care. They particularly valued relational support, whole-person care, and an enhanced sense of agency. However, key implementation barriers included significant out-of-pocket expenses, social and family trade-offs, and navigating disconnected, uncoordinated healthcare systems. Integrative naturopathic oncology is highly acceptable to metastatic cancer patients as a valued complement to conventional regimens. To optimize equitable and safe care delivery, future health systems must reduce financial barriers and introduce structured communication channels between conventional and integrative health providers.