Integrating a complementary medicine consultation for women undergoing chemotherapy

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• 作者：Eran Ben-Arye ; Elad Schiff ; Orit G. Raz ; Noah Samuels ; Ofer Lavie
• 关键词：Complementary medicine ; Doctor&ndash ; patient communication ; Gynecologic oncology ; Integrative medicine ; Quality of life
• 刊名：International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
• 出版年：January, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：124
• 期：1
• 页码：51-54
• 全文大小：212 K

文摘

Objective

To explore oncology healthcare providers鈥?(HCPs鈥? patterns of referral of women undergoing chemotherapy to a complementary medicine (CM) consultation integrated within a conventional oncology service.

Methods

Oncology 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.

Results

In 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 (魏 0.41).

Conclusion

The integration of a structured and informed process of referral to CM consultation may enhance patient-centered care and QOL during chemotherapy.