A survey of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in Illinois hospice and palliative care organizations.
This research assesses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and administration for patients and family caregivers in Illinois hospice and palliative care organizations. An online survey was administered to a sample of 108 contacts of Illinois organizations listed in the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization website, and 90.3% of the responding organizations offered some type of CAM. The top 5 most frequently offered CAM modalities to patients were pet therapy (64.5%), music therapy (61.3%), massage therapy (54.8%), art therapy (29.0%), and energy therapies (25.8%); these were the same top 5 offered to families but with different frequencies. Findings regarding utilization, administration, financing, and spiritual/cultural competency are discussed with policy recommendations for data collection, administrative improvements, and integration of CAM providers into service delivery.
Department of Health Education, CommunityHealth, Chicago, IL, USA gregory@uchicago.edu.
Gregory J
GJ
Van Hyfte
Health Services Research & Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Leila E
LE
Kozak
Department of Quality, Research, & Evaluation, Planetree, Derby, CT, USA Department of Health Services, Policy, & Practice, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Michael
M
Lepore
D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005190:Family; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
complementary and alternative medicine; complementary therapies; end-of-life care; family caregivers; hospice administration; hospice care; integrative palliative care; service delivery