Integrating a complementary medicine consultation for women undergoing chemotherapy |
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Authors: | Eran Ben-Arye Elad Schiff Orit G Raz Noah Samuels Ofer Lavie |
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Institution: | 1. Integrative Oncology Program, Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel;2. Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;3. Department of Internal Medicine and Integrative Surgery Service, Bnai Zion Hospital, Haifa, Israel;4. Clalit Complementary Medicine, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel;5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology Service, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel |
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Abstract: | ObjectiveTo explore oncology healthcare providers’ (HCPs’) patterns of referral of women undergoing chemotherapy to a complementary medicine (CM) consultation integrated within a conventional oncology service.MethodsOncology HCPs used a structured referral system for referral to an integrative physician (IP) for CM consultation. Referral goals were in accordance with a specified list of quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes.ResultsIn total, the study HCPs referred 282 female patients, of whom 238 (84.4%) underwent CM consultation by the study IP: 59 (24.8%) with gynecologic cancer and 179 (75.2%) with non-gynecologic cancer. Use of CM for cancer-related outcomes was significantly higher among referred patients with gynecologic cancer than those with non-gynecologic cancer (69.5% vs 46.9%; P = 0.003). Oncologists initiated most of the referrals in the gynecologic oncology group, whereas oncologic nurses referred most patients in the non-gynecologic oncology group. Among patients with gynecologic cancer, the correlation between HCP indication and patient expectation was high for gastrointestinal concerns (κ 0.41).ConclusionThe integration of a structured and informed process of referral to CM consultation may enhance patient-centered care and QOL during chemotherapy. |
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Keywords: | Complementary medicine Doctor&ndash patient communication Gynecologic oncology Integrative medicine Quality of life |
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