Attitude of employees of a university clinic to complementary and alternative medicine in oncology.
BACKGROUND
Cancer patients often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), yet discussion with the oncologist is often missing and oncologists lack knowledge in CAM.


METHODS
In order to learn more about the attitude of professionals in oncology toward CAM, a survey was conducted on employees of a German university clinic using a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
In total, 547 employees took part in the survey. One-third would definitely use CAM on cancer patients. Female employees are more interested in CAM than males (80% versus 20%; P = 0.001); physicians are less interested than nurses (57% versus 72%; P = 0.008). 2.5% of physicians and 9% of nurses are convinced that CAM is as effective as conventional therapy in cancer. Fifty-two percent of physicians and 12% of nurses agree that adverse effects due to CAM may be possible. Seventy-three percent did not consider themselves adequately informed on CAM for their professional work.


CONCLUSIONS
As a substantial part of participants would use CAM on cancer patients and most are interested in but not trained on this topic, there is a need for training of professionals from different professions working in oncology.
Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute.
A
A
Trimborn
Department of Psychooncology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main.
B
B
Senf
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinic, Gießen.
K
K
Muenstedt
Department of Head and Neck Diseases, Municipal Hospital, Nordhausen.
J
J
Buentzel
Department of Radiooncology, St. Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld.
O
O
Micke
Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum.
R
R
Muecke
RNS Praxisgemeinschaft Radioonology, Wiesbaden.
F J
FJ
Prott
Occupational Health Service, University Clinic, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
S
S
Wicker
Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute. Electronic address: huebner@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
J
J
Huebner
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities
alternative medicine; attitude of professionals; cancer; complementary medicine