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Communication and integration: a qualitative analysis of perspectives among Middle Eastern oncology healthcare professionals on the integration of complementary medicine in supportive cancer care

  • Original Article – Clinical Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Context and objectives

The use of complementary and traditional medicine (CTM ) in Middle Eastern countries is widespread, including among patients with cancer. Perspectives of oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) in this region regarding the integration of CTM within conventional supportive cancer care were explored.

Methods

An 11-item questionnaire with an open-ended question asking respondents to comment about the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care was sent to Middle Eastern oncology HCPs, using snowball sampling methodology. The narratives provided were examined using thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 339 oncology HCPs completed and returned the study tool (80.3 % response rate ), of which 178 from 15 Middle Eastern countries responded to the open-ended question. The majority of respondents are in favor of the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, though ideas on how this should be implemented varied. Thematic analysis identified multifactorial barriers to integration, which focused on HCPs’ perspectives (e.g., a lack of knowledge and training; a skeptical approach to CTM), attitudes of patients and caregivers (e.g., unrealistic expectations regarding the outcomes of CTM treatments) and HCP–patient communication. In order to overcome these barriers, respondents suggested education and training programs for oncology HCPs which would focus on improving patients’ quality-of-life-related outcomes.

Conclusions

Middle Eastern oncology HCPs support the integration of CTM within supportive cancer care, while recognizing the need for education and training in this field. A better understanding of CTM would provide the knowledge and skills which would promote a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach, fostering better communication with patients.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Jamal Dagash for his contribution in study design. We would also like to thank the following for their contribution in the monitoring of data acquisition: Dr. Orit Gressel-Raz, Ms. Ronit Leibowitz, Ms. Shimrit Roni, Mr. Shmuel Attias and Ms. Sarah Ben Shlush. This study was supported in part by the Middle East Cancer Consortium.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, 35 Rothschild St., 35152, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel

    Eran Ben-Arye & Noah Samuels

  2. Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Eran Ben-Arye

  3. David Yellin Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ariela Popper-Giveon

  4. Tal Center for Integrative Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Noah Samuels

  5. Center for Palliative Care Research and Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey

    Kamer Mutafoglu

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, and Integrative Medicine Service, Bnai-Zion Hospital, Haifa, Israel

    Elad Schiff

  7. The Department for Complementary Medicine, Law and Ethics, The International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel

    Elad Schiff

  8. Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Suha Omran

  9. Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Haris Charalambous

  10. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Tahani Dweikat

  11. Makassed Charitable Hospital, East Jerusalem, Palestine

    Ibtisam Ghrayeb

  12. Dr. A.Y Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Ibrahim Turker

  13. National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Doha, Qatar

    Azza Hassan

  14. Botany Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    Esmat Hassan

  15. Department of Cancer Prevention, Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan

    Omar Nimri

  16. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Rejin Kebudi

  17. Middle East Cancer Consortium, Haifa, Israel

    Michael Silbermann

Authors
  1. Eran Ben-Arye
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  2. Ariela Popper-Giveon
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  3. Noah Samuels
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  4. Kamer Mutafoglu
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  5. Elad Schiff
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  6. Suha Omran
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  7. Haris Charalambous
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  8. Tahani Dweikat
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  9. Ibtisam Ghrayeb
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  10. Ibrahim Turker
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  11. Azza Hassan
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  12. Esmat Hassan
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  13. Omar Nimri
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  14. Rejin Kebudi
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  15. Michael Silbermann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eran Ben-Arye.

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All authors declare no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence our work.

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Ben-Arye, E., Popper-Giveon, A., Samuels, N. et al. Communication and integration: a qualitative analysis of perspectives among Middle Eastern oncology healthcare professionals on the integration of complementary medicine in supportive cancer care. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 142, 1117–1126 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2120-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2120-9

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