The Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes (CAMEO) program: a foundation for patient and health professional education and decision support programs.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the background, design and evaluation of a theory-informed education and decision support program for cancer patients considering complementary medicine (CM).


METHODS
The program was informed by the Shared Decision Making theory, the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and the Supportive Care Framework. Previous empirical evidence and baseline research were used to identify patients' and health professionals' (HPs) information and decision support needs related to CM.


RESULTS
To address the continuum of CM needs, a variety of education and decision support interventions were developed, including basic CM information and resources for patients and HPs, a group education program and one-on-one decision support coaching for patients, and an on-line education module for HPs. Evaluation of the program and individual interventions is underway.


CONCLUSIONS
This education and decision support program addresses a significant gap in care and offers an evidence-informed framework in which to translate CM evidence to conventional care settings and promote communication about CM.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence-informed CM education and decision support interventions are needed to shift the culture around CM within conventional care settings and promote open communication that will lead to CM therapies being safely integrated into care.
UBC School of Nursing, Vancouver, Canada. lynda.balneaves@nursing.ubc.ca
Lynda G
LG
Balneaves
Tracy L O
TL
Truant
Marja J
MJ
Verhoef
Brenda
B
Ross
Antony J
AJ
Porcino
Margurite
M
Wong
Alison S
AS
Brazier
D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education*; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation