Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by Washington State hospices.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine in hospice care in the state of Washington.


METHODS
Hospices offering inpatient and outpatient care in Washington State were surveyed by phone interview.


RESULTS
Response rate was 100%. Results indicated that 86% of Washington State hospices offered complementary and alternative services to their patients, most frequently massage (87%), music therapy (74%), energy healing (65%), aromatherapy (45%), guided imagery (45%), compassionate touch (42%), acupuncture (32%), pet therapy (32%), meditation (29%), art therapy (22%), reflexology (19%), and hypnotherapy (16%). Most hospices relied on volunteers with or without small donations to offer such services.


CONCLUSIONS
Complementary and alternative therapies are widely used by Washington State hospices but not covered under hospice benefits. Extensive use of these therapies seems to warrant the inclusion of complementary and alternative providers as part of hospice staff, and reimbursement schedules need to be integrated into hospice care.
Kozak
Leila E
LE
Bastyr University Research Center, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA. leilak@bastyr.edu
Kayes
Lucy
L
McCarty
Rachelle
R
Walkinshaw
Catharine
C
Congdon
Sean
S
Kleinberger
Janis
J
Hartman
Valerie
V
Standish
Leanna J
LJ
D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000458:organization & administration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D014861:Washington