title: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Palliative Care: A Comparison of Data From Surveys Among Patients and Professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during or after their therapy. Because little is known about CAM in palliative care, we conducted 2 surveys among patients and professionals in the palliative setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients of a German Comprehensive Cancer Center were interviewed, and an independent online survey was conducted among members of the German Society for Palliative Care (DGP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 25 patients and 365 professional members of the DGP completed the survey (9.8% of all members); 40% of the patients, 85% of the physicians, and 99% of the nurses claimed to be interested in CAM. The most important source of information for professionals is education, whereas for patients it is radio, TV, and family and friends. Most patients are interested in biological-based methods, yet professionals prefer mind-body-based methods. Patients more often confirm scientific evidence to be important for CAM than professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve communication, physicians should be trained in evidence for those CAM methods in which patients are interested.
authors.affiliation: Lippe Hospital Lemgo, Germany Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muecke
authors.affiliation: J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.affiliation: Clinic Herzoghoehe, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.affiliation: Ortenau Clinic, Offenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muenstedt
authors.affiliation: Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Micke
authors.affiliation: St Josefs Hospital, Wiesbaden, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Prott
authors.affiliation: Suedharz Hospital, Nordhausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buentzel
authors.affiliation: J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany huebner@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huebner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006281:Health Occupations; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D000070659:Patient Comfort / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: attitude of professionals; complementary therapies; information seeking behavior; neoplasm; palliative care