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Complementary therapy and support services for formal and informal caregivers in Italian palliative care hospices: an exploratory and descriptive study

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study is aimed to assess the availability and use of complementary medicine (CM) therapies in Italian palliative care hospices, and the support services available to caregivers and hospice staff.

Methods

A national sample of 30 hospices meeting study criteria provided data by means of telephone interviews.

Results

All hospices offered spiritual assistance and at least one other form of CM, with the most common being massage therapy (n = 24) and relaxation therapy (n = 10). When offered complementary therapies, 65% or more of the patients accepted them. Twenty-nine hospices provided spiritual and psychological support to caregivers during patient stays, but only 12 offered support at home. All hospices offered support services to their staff, both in individual and group formats.

Conclusions

Despite limited empirical support, CM has become an important part of palliative care for end-of-life patients in Italy, as in many other countries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Antea Formad, Rome, Italy

    Monia Belletti, Chiara Mastroianni & Giuseppe Casale

  2. Department of Development and Socialization Processes Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Luca Mallia, Fabio Lucidi & Simona Reichmann

  3. Department of Nursing, “Campus Bio medico di Roma” University, Rome, Italy

    Maria Grazia De Marinis

Authors
  1. Monia Belletti
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  2. Luca Mallia
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  3. Fabio Lucidi
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  4. Simona Reichmann
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  5. Chiara Mastroianni
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  6. Maria Grazia De Marinis
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  7. Giuseppe Casale
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Correspondence to Chiara Mastroianni.

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Belletti, M., Mallia, L., Lucidi, F. et al. Complementary therapy and support services for formal and informal caregivers in Italian palliative care hospices: an exploratory and descriptive study. Support Care Cancer 19, 1939–1947 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-1034-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-1034-3

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