Cancer patients make extensive use of complementary care, such as acupuncture, yoga or nutritional supplements. However, this subject is hardly ever discussed, if at all, in conversations between the patient and the treating physician.
Oncological consultation
Using audio recordings of 80 oncology consultations between cancer patients and their healthcare provider, Nivel investigated how often and in what way the topic of complementary care was discussed. In most cases where complementary care was discussed, it was not discussed in detail. The patient was usually the one who brought up the subject of complementary care.
In a quarter of the cases when the patient brought up the subject, the healthcare provider did not address what the patient raised at all. “This while using complementary care for the patient can have important benefits, but there can also be adverse effects,” said Nivel. Only in 12 percent of cases did the healthcare provider ask an additional question on the subject. In most cases, the patient asked his or her health care provider about the safety of some form of complementary care or about scientific evidence for the effectiveness of herbs, supplements or foods.
Attitude
In addition to the content of the conversation about complementary care, Nivel also observed the attitude of the patient and caregiver during the conversation. During the consultations, care providers mainly expressed positive or neutral terms about complementary care. Patients’ attitudes towards complementary care were also mostly positive to neutral.