Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department.
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.
Ben-Arye
Eran
E
Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il
Frenkel
Moshe
M
Bar-Sela
Gil
G
Margalit
Ruth Stashefsky
RS
Hermoni
Doron
D
Kuten
Abraham
A
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