Addressing Unmet Information Needs: Results of a Clinician-LedConsultation Service About Complementary and Alternative Medicine for CancerPatients and Their Relatives

摘要

Purpose. To report on a telephone consultation service with cancer patients and their relatives about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) between 1999 and 2011. Methods. We offered a Germany-wide, free-of-charge telephone consultation service about CAM led by oncology clinicians from a comprehensive cancer center. The consultations followed a patient-centered approach with the aim to provide guidance and evidence-based information. Sociodemographic, disease-related data as well as information about the consultations’ content were collected in a standardized manner, and feedback questionnaires were sent out immediately after the consultations. Results. Overall, 5269 callers from all over Germany used the service (57% patients, 43% relatives). The “big 4” cancer types (breast, gastrointestinal, prostate, and lung) accounted for 55% of all calls. In 67% of calls, patients had just received the diagnosis or commenced anticancer therapy; 69% of patients had advanced or metastatic diseases. More than half of the callers (55%) had vague concerns like “what else can I do?” rather than specific questions related to CAM. The consultations covered a broad spectrum of issues from CAM therapies to cancertreatment and measures supportive of health, nutrition, and psychosocialsupport. Callers highly valued the service. Conclusions.Consulting about CAM addresses important unmet needs from cancer patients andtheir relatives. It provides clinicians with the opportunity to engage in openand supportive dialogues about evidence-based CAM to help with symptommanagement, psychological support, and individual self-care. Consulting aboutCAM cannot be separated from consulting about conventional care and should beprovided from the beginning of the cancer journey.