title: One hand cannot clap-a study of Arab practitioners of traditional and complementary medicine in Israel: identifying barriers to integrative oncology care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The integration of complementary medicine is gradually becoming an accepted part of standard care for patients with cancer. In our integrative oncology program, we have encountered difficulties in recruiting Arab patients. In order to understand the special needs of this population, we conducted interviews among Arab practitioners of complementary and traditional medicine (CTM). The characteristics of practitioners and their views regarding the therapeutic process were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured qualitative interviews were administered to 27 Arab practitioners of CTM whose clientele was comprised primarily of Arab cancer patients. Conventional content analysis of the transcribed interviews and field notes was performed in order to identify key themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three groups of CTM practice were identified: Folk-herbal medicine (n = 9), complementary medicine (CM; n = 14), and religious healing (n = 4). Seven factors were identified in the practitioner accounts: the duration and scheduling of treatment sessions, the language of communication, the presence of family members, the appearance of the practitioner, the definition of treatment goals, the discussion of behavioral and lifestyle changes, and finally, the use of tangible elements in treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study of Arab CTM practitioner recommendations may help facilitate a culture-sensitive encounter with Arab patients with cancer. This approach may also have implications for other ethno-culturally unique populations.
authors.affiliation: The Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel; David Yellin Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ariela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popper-Giveon
authors.affiliation: Department of Complementary/Integrative Medicine, Law and Ethics, International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel; Department of Internal Medicine, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatem
authors.affiliation: The Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.affiliation: The Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel; Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Practice, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: eranben@netvision.net.il.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D003142:Communication; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003469:Culture; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D026443:Spiritual Therapies
keywords: Traditional medicine, Integrative oncology, Complementary medicine, Alternative medicine, Arabs in Israel