Eran Ben-Arye1,2, Ariela Popper-Giveon3, Noah Samuels4,5, Kamer Mutafoglu6, Elad Schiff7,8, Suha Omran9, Haris Charalambous10, Tahani Dweikat11, Ibtisam Ghrayeb12, Ibrahim Turker13, Azza Hassan14, Esmat Hassan15, Omar Nimri16, Rejin Kebudi17, Michael Silbermann18. 1. Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, 35 Rothschild St., 35152, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il. 2. Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il. 3. David Yellin Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel. 4. Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, 35 Rothschild St., 35152, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel. 5. Tal Center for Integrative Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. 6. Center for Palliative Care Research and Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, and Integrative Medicine Service, Bnai-Zion Hospital, Haifa, Israel. 8. The Department for Complementary Medicine, Law and Ethics, The International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel. 9. Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. 10. Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center, Nicosia, Cyprus. 11. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 12. Makassed Charitable Hospital, East Jerusalem, Palestine. 13. Dr. A.Y Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 14. National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Doha, Qatar. 15. Botany Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. 16. Department of Cancer Prevention, Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan. 17. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. 18. Middle East Cancer Consortium, Haifa, Israel.
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: The use of complementary and traditional medicine (CTM ) in Middle Eastern countries is widespread, including among patients with cancer. Perspectives of oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) in this region regarding the integration of CTM within conventional supportive cancer care were explored. METHODS: An 11-item questionnaire with an open-ended question asking respondents to comment about the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care was sent to Middle Eastern oncology HCPs, using snowball sampling methodology. The narratives provided were examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 339 oncology HCPs completed and returned the study tool (80.3 % response rate ), of which 178 from 15 Middle Eastern countries responded to the open-ended question. The majority of respondents are in favor of the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, though ideas on how this should be implemented varied. Thematic analysis identified multifactorial barriers to integration, which focused on HCPs' perspectives (e.g., a lack of knowledge and training; a skeptical approach to CTM), attitudes of patients and caregivers (e.g., unrealistic expectations regarding the outcomes of CTM treatments) and HCP-patient communication. In order to overcome these barriers, respondents suggested education and training programs for oncology HCPs which would focus on improving patients' quality-of-life-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Middle Eastern oncology HCPs support the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, while recognizing the need for education and training in this field. A better understanding of CTM would provide the knowledge and skills which would promote a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach, fostering better communication with patients.
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: The use of complementary and traditional medicine (CTM ) in Middle Eastern countries is widespread, including among patients with cancer. Perspectives of oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) in this region regarding the integration of CTM within conventional supportive cancer care were explored. METHODS: An 11-item questionnaire with an open-ended question asking respondents to comment about the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care was sent to Middle Eastern oncology HCPs, using snowball sampling methodology. The narratives provided were examined using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 339 oncology HCPs completed and returned the study tool (80.3 % response rate ), of which 178 from 15 Middle Eastern countries responded to the open-ended question. The majority of respondents are in favor of the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, though ideas on how this should be implemented varied. Thematic analysis identified multifactorial barriers to integration, which focused on HCPs' perspectives (e.g., a lack of knowledge and training; a skeptical approach to CTM), attitudes of patients and caregivers (e.g., unrealistic expectations regarding the outcomes of CTM treatments) and HCP-patient communication. In order to overcome these barriers, respondents suggested education and training programs for oncology HCPs which would focus on improving patients' quality-of-life-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Middle Eastern oncology HCPs support the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, while recognizing the need for education and training in this field. A better understanding of CTM would provide the knowledge and skills which would promote a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach, fostering better communication with patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Complementary medicine; Doctor–patient communication; Integrative medicine; Palliative care; Supportive cancer care; Traditional medicine
Authors: Eran Ben-Arye; Elad Schiff; Kamer Mutafoglu; Suha Omran; Ramzi Hajjar; Haris Charalambous; Tahani Dweikat; Ibtisam Ghrayeb; Gil Bar Sela; Ibrahim Turker; Azza Hassan; Esmat Hassan; Ariela Popper-Giveon; Bashar Saad; Omar Nimri; Rejin Kebudi; Jamal Dagash; Michael Silbermann Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-01-24 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: M Silbermann; M Arnaout; M Daher; S Nestoros; B Pitsillides; H Charalambous; M Gultekin; R Fahmi; K A H Mostafa; A D Khleif; N Manasrah; A Oberman Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: E Ben-Arye; E Massalha; G Bar-Sela; M Silbermann; A Agbarya; B Saad; E Lev; E Schiff Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2014-01-07 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: O Paltiel; M Avitzour; T Peretz; N Cherny; L Kaduri; R M Pfeffer; N Wagner; V Soskolne Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2001-05-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: A Trimborn; B Senf; K Muenstedt; J Buentzel; O Micke; R Muecke; F J Prott; S Wicker; J Huebner Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2013-08-13 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: Eran Ben-Arye; Jamal Mahajna; Radi Aly; Mohammed Saleem Ali-Shtayeh; Yedidia Bentur; Efraim Lev; Gary Deng; Noah Samuels Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2016-05-07 Impact factor: 4.553