title: Perceptions of complementary medicine integration in supportive cancer care of Arabs and Jews in Israel: a cross-cultural study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a dearth of studies on how cultural background influences patients' attitudes and choices regarding complementary and traditional medicine (CTM) integration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore Arab and Jewish patients' perspectives regarding CTM use and its possible integration within conventional cancer care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-cultural study. We developed a 27-item questionnaire that evaluates patients' perceptions regarding CTM integration in supportive cancer care. The questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of patients receiving cancer care in community and hospital oncology centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 770 respondents (response rate 88%), 324 defined their religion as Muslim, Christian, or Druze (henceforth, regarded as Arabs) and 446 were Jews. Respondents in the two groups differed significantly in terms of age, gender, marital status, number of children, education, religiosity, and prevalence of cancer types (excluding breast cancer). Although Arab respondents reported less use of CTM for cancer-related outcomes (39.6% vs. 52.1%; P = 0.001), they expressed greater support than Jewish respondents for optional CTM consultation if provided within conventional oncology care (P < 0.0001). Respondents in both groups stated that their primary expectation from the oncologist concerning CTM was to participate in formulating a CTM treatment plan to be provided within the oncology department. Compared with Arab respondents, Jews expected CTM consultations to focus on improving daily functioning and coping, reducing chemotherapy side effects, and providing spiritual support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although quality of life-related expectations are more pronounced among Jewish respondents, both groups share the expectation from their health care providers to be actively involved in construction of a tailored integrative CTM treatment plan.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel; Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: eranben@netvision.net.il.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and the Complementary Medicine Service, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; International Center for Health, Law, and Ethics, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.affiliation: The Middle East Cancer Consortium, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silbermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; The Community Oncology Unit, Nazareth, Clalit Health Services, Northern District, Israel.
authors.forename: Abed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agbarya
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bar-Sela
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D065246:Culturally Competent Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D007585:Jews / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018511:Systems Integration
keywords: Cross-cultural medicine; Middle East; doctor-patient communication; integrative medicine; quality of life; traditional medicine