title: Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increased use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with cancer is a significant phenomenon in cancer care and suggests the need for increased knowledge by clinicians of these therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aiming at bridging the gap in knowledge of the philosophy and practice of major CAM modalities in cancer care, an elective course was offered to physicians and nurses in a large academic center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The course also aimed at providing the tools necessary to establish open and trusting clinician-patient dialogue regarding CAM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to the course was successful in improving knowledge and attitudes.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frenkel
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bar-Sela
authors.forename: Ruth Stashefsky
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Margalit
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hermoni
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuten
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching