Eran Ben-Arye1, Elad Schiff2, Michael Silbermann3, Abed Agbarya4, Gil Bar-Sela5. 1. Integrative Oncology Program, Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel; Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: eranben@netvision.net.il. 2. Departments of Internal Medicine and the Complementary Medicine Service, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; International Center for Health, Law, and Ethics, Haifa, Israel. 3. The Middle East Cancer Consortium, Haifa, Israel. 4. Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; The Community Oncology Unit, Nazareth, Clalit Health Services, Northern District, Israel. 5. Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
Abstract
CONTEXT: There is a dearth of studies on how cultural background influences patients' attitudes and choices regarding complementary and traditional medicine (CTM) integration. OBJECTIVES: To explore Arab and Jewish patients' perspectives regarding CTM use and its possible integration within conventional cancer care. METHODS: This was a cross-cultural study. We developed a 27-item questionnaire that evaluates patients' perceptions regarding CTM integration in supportive cancer care. The questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of patients receiving cancer care in community and hospital oncology centers. RESULTS: Of the 770 respondents (response rate 88%), 324 defined their religion as Muslim, Christian, or Druze (henceforth, regarded as Arabs) and 446 were Jews. Respondents in the two groups differed significantly in terms of age, gender, marital status, number of children, education, religiosity, and prevalence of cancer types (excluding breast cancer). Although Arab respondents reported less use of CTM for cancer-related outcomes (39.6% vs. 52.1%; P = 0.001), they expressed greater support than Jewish respondents for optional CTM consultation if provided within conventional oncology care (P < 0.0001). Respondents in both groups stated that their primary expectation from the oncologist concerning CTM was to participate in formulating a CTM treatment plan to be provided within the oncology department. Compared with Arab respondents, Jews expected CTM consultations to focus on improving daily functioning and coping, reducing chemotherapy side effects, and providing spiritual support. CONCLUSION: Although quality of life-related expectations are more pronounced among Jewish respondents, both groups share the expectation from their health care providers to be actively involved in construction of a tailored integrative CTM treatment plan.
CONTEXT: There is a dearth of studies on how cultural background influences patients' attitudes and choices regarding complementary and traditional medicine (CTM) integration. OBJECTIVES: To explore Arab and Jewish patients' perspectives regarding CTM use and its possible integration within conventional cancer care. METHODS: This was a cross-cultural study. We developed a 27-item questionnaire that evaluates patients' perceptions regarding CTM integration in supportive cancer care. The questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of patients receiving cancer care in community and hospital oncology centers. RESULTS: Of the 770 respondents (response rate 88%), 324 defined their religion as Muslim, Christian, or Druze (henceforth, regarded as Arabs) and 446 were Jews. Respondents in the two groups differed significantly in terms of age, gender, marital status, number of children, education, religiosity, and prevalence of cancer types (excluding breast cancer). Although Arab respondents reported less use of CTM for cancer-related outcomes (39.6% vs. 52.1%; P = 0.001), they expressed greater support than Jewish respondents for optional CTM consultation if provided within conventional oncology care (P < 0.0001). Respondents in both groups stated that their primary expectation from the oncologist concerning CTM was to participate in formulating a CTM treatment plan to be provided within the oncology department. Compared with Arab respondents, Jews expected CTM consultations to focus on improving daily functioning and coping, reducing chemotherapy side effects, and providing spiritual support. CONCLUSION: Although quality of life-related expectations are more pronounced among Jewish respondents, both groups share the expectation from their health care providers to be actively involved in construction of a tailored integrative CTM treatment plan.
Authors: Ilanit Shalom Sharabi; Anna Levin; Elad Schiff; Noah Samuels; Olga Agour; Yehudith Tapiro; Efraim Lev; Lital Keinan-Boker; Eran Ben-Arye Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-05-11 Impact factor: 3.603