| Literature DB >> 30373631 |
Caroline A Smith1, Jennifer Hunter2,3, Geoff P Delaney4,5,6, Jane M Ussher7, Kate Templeman2, Suzanne Grant2, Eleanor Oyston8.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis are increasingly using complementary therapies and medicines (CM) to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment, manage treatment-related side effects, improve quality-of-life, and promote self-efficacy. In response to the increasing use and demand for CM by cancer patients, interest in the implementation of Integrative Oncology (IO) services that provide CM alongside conventional cancer care in Australia and abroad has developed. The extent that cancer services in Australia are integrating CM is uncertain. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify IO services in Australia and explore barriers and facilitators to IO service provision.Entities:
Keywords: Cancer; Complementary medicine; Integrative medicine; Integrative oncology; Supportive care
Mesh:
Year: 2018 PMID: 30373631 PMCID: PMC6206936 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2357-8
Source DB: PubMed Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med ISSN: 1472-6882 Impact factor: 3.659
Location and ownership of integrative oncology providers and non-providers
| Healthcare organisations with specialised cancer services | IO providers | Non-IO providers | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | |
| Location | ||||||
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 | 0.4 | 2 | 0.7 | 3 | 1.1 |
| New South Wales | 25 | 9.1 | 57 | 20.7 | 82 | 29.8 |
| Northern Territory | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.7 | 2 | 0.7 |
| Queensland | 9 | 3.3 | 58 | 21.1 | 67 | 24.4 |
| South Australia | 6 | 2.2 | 22 | 8.0 | 28 | 10.2 |
| Tasmania | 2 | 0.7 | 5 | 1.8 | 7 | 2.5 |
| Western Australia | 11 | 4.0 | 17 | 6.2 | 28 | 10.2 |
| Victoria | 17 | 6.2 | 41 | 14.9 | 58 | 21.1 |
| Ownership* | ||||||
| Government | 27 | 9.8 | 109 | 39.6 | 136 | 49.5 |
| For-profit company | 11 | 4.0 | 67 | 24.4 | 78 | 28.4 |
| Not-for-profit company | 33 | 12.0 | 28 | 10.2 | 61 | 22.2 |
| Total | 71 | 25.8 | 204 | 74.2 | 275 | 100.0 |
* Χ2 (2) = 33.6, p < 0.001
Fig. 1Location of organisations with integrative oncology services
Settings where cancer services are provided
| Settingb | IO providers | IO providers | Non-IO providers | All providers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | |
| Hospital inpatient | 37 | 13.5 | 54 | 19.6 | 120 | 43.6 | 174 | 63.3 |
| Hospital outpatient / clinic | 56 | 20.4 | 64 | 23.3 | 187 | 68.0 | 251 | 91.3 |
| (Dedicated IO centre) | (25 | 9.1) | ||||||
| Community centre / facility | 14 | 5.1 | 22 | 8.0 | 54 | 19.6 | 76 | 27.6 |
| Home / residential care visits | 3 | 1.1 | 23 | 8.4 | 53 | 19.3 | 76 | 27.6 |
| Total | 71 | 25.8 | 71 | 25.8 | 204 | 74.2 | 275 | 100.0 |
aIO services are a sub set of all cancer services b more than one response allowed
Integrative oncology (IO) service provision
| Service category | Number of organisations | Number of practitioners / organisation | Hours available per week / organisation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | Median | range | Median | range | |
| Massage, Touch, or Body Alignment Therapies | 54 | 76.1 | 2.5 | 1 to 27 | 12 | 2 to 65 |
| Psychological Wellbeing Services | 51 | 71.8 | 2 | 1 to 10 | 7 | 0.5 to 72 |
| Movement Modalities | 28 | 39.4 | 2 | 1 to 20 | 3 | 1 to 20 |
| Integrative Medicine ( | 13 | 18.3 | 1 | 1 to 4 | 40 | 24 to 46 |
| Acupuncture | 9 | 12.7 | 1 | 1 to 3 | 6 | 2 to 24 |
| Other | 3 | 4.2 | 1 | 1 to 3 | 16 | 6 to 60 |
Total number of organisations providing IO services n = 71
Barriers to providing Integrative oncology (IO) services and potential solutions
| Barriers ( | Number | Percent | Potential Solutions ( | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lack of funding | 123 | 60.3 | Funding | 59 | 45.4 |
| Low patient demand / awareness | 65 | 31.9 | Staff education / training | 30 | 23.1 |
| Unsure about which IO services to provide | 64 | 31.4 | Build the evidence-base | 18 | 13.8 |
| Unsure how to set up an IO service | 55 | 27.1 | Help with developing a business model | 8 | 6.2 |
| Lack of support or interest from oncologists | 51 | 25.0 | Determine clinical governance | 7 | 5.4 |
| Organisational policy does not allow IO | 38 | 18.6 | Change organisational attitudes / culture | 7 | 5.4 |
| Not enough evidence | 22 | 10.8 | Ensure sufficient demand for service | 5 | 3.8 |
| Management does not want IO services | 16 | 7.8 | Policy support | 4 | 3.1 |
| Other Comments: | More space to provide services | 3 | 2.3 | ||
| Inadequate resources e.g. time, staff, space | 17 | 8.3 | |||
| No champion or organisational interest | 8 | 3.9 | |||
| Unsure of patient demand | 7 | 3.4 | |||
| Difficulty recruiting CM practitioners | 6 | 2.9 | |||
| Patient affordability / high out-of-pocket costs | 2 | 1 |
Only non-IO providers were asked these questions. More than one response was allowed