Complementary therapy use in metropolitan and regional Australian radiotherapy centres; do patients report effective outcomes?

Hunter, Darren; Marinakis, Christopher; Salisbury, Ruth; Cray, Alison; Oates, Richard

doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2972-6

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The results from the community survey and focus group interviews align with the findings from other Australia studies [ 3 , 11 , 30 , 31 , 37 , 38 ]. A substantial number of cancer survivors use biological based T&CM therapies and consult T&CM practitioners, both during and after active cancer treatment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although prayer and spiritual practices are one of the most commonly used non-biologically based CM therapies both in Australia and abroad [ 3 , 30 , 31 ], questions about prayer were excluded. The focus of the research was IO services and in Australia, pastoral care services are not classified as an IO service [ 3 , 30 , 31 ]. The researchers recognise that the boundaries can be blurred, as T&CM wellbeing services such as meditation and mindfulness may draw on religious philosophies and traditions, and spirituality (rather than religiousness) is considered to be a domain of ‘holistic health’ [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian integrative oncology services: a mixed-method study exploring the views of cancer survivors

Hunter

Ussher

Parton

et al. 2018

BMC Complement Altern Med

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BackgroundThe significant use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) by cancer survivors is well documented. The aim of this study was to explore cancer survivors’ views on integrating T&CM services with conventional cancer care.MethodA mixed-method study design with an emphasis on qualitative methodology was used to conduct and analyse four focus group interviews and an on-line survey. Purposive sampling recruited 33 cancer survivors and caregivers from Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese and Anglo-European Australian backgrounds who participated in one of four focus group interviews, and 121 cancer survivors who responded to an on-line survey. The inductive thematic analysis was augmented with a descriptive statistical analysis.ResultsMost participants had used T&CM therapies or consulted T&CM practitioners as an adjuvant during and/or after their initial cancer treatment. Two themes emerged: ‘positive perceptions and experiences’ and ‘barriers and unmet needs’. Participants emphasised that T&CM was not a ‘luxury item’, rather it was considered important for managing side effects and comorbidities, rehabilitation and quality of life. A wide range of complex, interrelated barriers and solutions to IO service provision and access were identified. Structural barriers included inadequate service provision, medical practitioner attitudes, logistical constraints and funding. Personal barriers were influenced by the severity of impairment and disability; attitudes, beliefs and knowledge about T&CM; and available resources (e.g. finances, time, transport). Unmet need and inequitable access was exacerbated by geographical location, ethnicity and ability to pay. There was a mismatch between where participants were accessing T&CM services and their preference for IO service delivery. Participants perceived hospital-based IO services availability to have several benefits, including the T&CM practitioners having more expert knowledge about cancer care, the convenience of co-locating oncology services, and potentially lower out-of-pocket costs.ConclusionPatients’ use, preferences and needs for T&CM services in the oncology setting are important for informing service provision. Inequitable, unmet need reflected the increasing demand and expectation from patients for their oncology teams to be well informed about the benefits, risks and indications for T&CM use, and for the public and private health sectors to formally integrate and fund IO services.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2209-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian integrative oncology services: a mixed-method study exploring the views of cancer survivors

Hunter

Ussher

Parton

et al. 2018

BMC Complement Altern Med

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“…Perhaps the largest mismatch was the high rates of biological-based therapies used by cancer survivors (e.g. herbs and nutritional supplements, and consultations with traditional medicine practitioners) [ 6 , 9 – 11 ] compared to the negligible provision of biological-based IO services. Botanicals and supplements continue to be controversial due to concerns over safety, especially regarding interactions with pharmaceuticals and contraindications [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whilst the research reporting CM use and the experiences of cancer survivors in Australia continues to grow [ 9 – 13 ], little is known about its integration with other cancer services. Only two studies have explored this issue, and the results from both surveys were limited by small sample sizes, restricted inclusion criteria, and suboptimal response rates [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative oncology and complementary medicine cancer services in Australia: findings from a national cross-sectional survey

Smith

Hunter

Delaney

et al. 2018

BMC Complement Altern Med

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BackgroundIndividuals living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis are increasingly using complementary therapies and medicines (CM) to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment, manage treatment-related side effects, improve quality-of-life, and promote self-efficacy. In response to the increasing use and demand for CM by cancer patients, interest in the implementation of Integrative Oncology (IO) services that provide CM alongside conventional cancer care in Australia and abroad has developed. The extent that cancer services in Australia are integrating CM is uncertain. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify IO services in Australia and explore barriers and facilitators to IO service provision.MethodsA national, cross-sectional survey of healthcare organisations was conducted in 2016. Organisations in the public and private sectors, including not-for-profit organisations that provided cancer care in hospital or community setting, were included.ResultsA response rate of 93.2% was achieved (n = 275/295). Seventy-one organisations (25.8%) across all states/territories, except the Northern Territory, offered IO albeit in a limited amount by many. Most common IO services included massage, psychological-wellbeing, and movement modalities in hospital outpatient or inpatient settings. There were only a few instances where biological-based complementary medicine (CM) therapies were prescribed. Funding was often mixed, including patient contributions, philanthropy, funding by the organisation, and volunteer practitioners.Of the 204 non-IO providers, 80.9% had never provided any IO service. Overwhelmingly, the most common barrier to IO was a lack of funding, followed by uncertainty about patient demand, choice of services, and establishing such services. Less-common barriers were a lack of evidence, and support from oncologists or management. More funding, education and training, and building the evidence-base for CM were the most commonly suggested solutions.ConclusionIO is increasingly being provided in Australia, although service provision remains limited or non-existent in many areas. Mismatches appear to exist between low IO service provision, CM evidence, and high CM use by cancer patients. Greater strategic planning and policy guidance is indicated to ensure the appropriate provision of, and equitable access to IO services for all Australian cancer survivors.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2357-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Yoga for depression and anxiety symptoms in people with cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2021

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Objective Cancer and its treatment can lead to a variety of physical and emotional concerns impacting on those affected, including subclinical or clinical depression and anxiety, which in turn have a significant impact on wellbeing, quality of life and survival. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of yoga‐based interventions on self‐reported depression and anxiety symptoms in people with cancer in randomized controlled trials. Method Six databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Systematic review procedures were followed including a quality assessment. Meta‐analysis of suitable studies was conducted. Results 26 studies from our search criteria were eligible for inclusion for depressive and 16 for anxiety symptoms. Meta‐analyses revealed evidence for significant medium effects of yoga on depression symptoms (N = 1,486, g = −0.419, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.558 to −0.281, p < 0.001) and anxiety (N = 977, g = −0.347, 95% CI = −0.473 to −0.221, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Subgroup analyses for depressive symptoms revealed significant effects for all analyses performed (type of cancer, type of control, treatment status, duration of intervention or frequency of yoga sessions), with effect sizes being comparable between subgroups. Similar findings were found for anxiety symptoms except for treatment status, where the only significant effect was found when yoga was delivered during active treatment. Conclusions This review provides evidence that in people with cancer, yoga‐based interventions are associated with amelioration of depression and anxiety symptoms and therefore a promising therapeutic modality for their management. However, the potential for risk of bias together with control group design challenges means the results should be interpreted with caution.

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Complementary therapy use in metropolitan and regional Australian radiotherapy centres; do patients report effective outcomes?

Cited by 15 publications

References 37 publications

Australian integrative oncology services: a mixed-method study exploring the views of cancer survivors

Australian integrative oncology services: a mixed-method study exploring the views of cancer survivors

Integrative oncology and complementary medicine cancer services in Australia: findings from a national cross-sectional survey

Yoga for depression and anxiety symptoms in people with cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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