Study shows high demand for complementary therapies for cancer patients in Germany

Study shows high demand for complementary therapies for cancer patients in Germany

study shows that cancer patients want comprehensive information about complementary therapies

A new survey on behalf of the Samueli Foundation has shown that almost two thirds (62%) of people with cancer want information about complementary therapies such as movement, nutritional advice, massage and meditation before the start of conventional treatment. However, only 33% of oncologists agree to this schedule.

The survey included more than 1,000 patients who have been diagnosed with cancer in the past two years, and 150 oncologists. It revealed a strong preference for patients for cancer treatment that integrated additional approaches. 40% of cancer patients stated that afterwards they had decided on a hospital that had offered additional therapies. Over a third (35%) reported that their satisfaction would have increased if their medical team had offered additional services such as psychological support, mindfulness training and spiritual services, in addition to traditional treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

The survey also showed that more than three quarters of oncologists (76%) would like to find out about the advantages of complementary therapies in conjunction with conventional treatment. However, many of them called barriers for the integration of these approaches. This included a lack of reimbursement by health insurance (49%), missing personnel (39%), the assumption that patients are not interested (32%) and a lack of time to integrate these options into discussions with the patients (31%).

The senior director of the Integrative Health Program of the Samueli Foundation, Dr. Wayne Jonas, emphasized the need for clinists, insurance and hospitals to be informed about these therapies and should enable access to it. He explained: "Patients and oncologists want to see the advantages of treatment of the whole person instead of just the disease, but many systems are structured so that such a supply is prevented." The survey also showed that 50% of patients and 60% of oncologists are firmly convinced that integrative oncology can help to cope with side effects and to improve general well -being during and after treatment. In addition, 40% of patients and oncologists believe that the treatment results and the overall survival rate can be improved compared to the sole use of medical treatments by supplementing therapies. In particular, urban patients (55%) and patients aged 18 to 50 (72%) agree more often than patients in the country (35%) and elderly patients aged 75 and over (23%).

Although 66% of cancer patients provide for at least one additional therapy, most of them have never passed this information on to their oncologists. The most frequently used complementary therapies were nutritional advice (35%), psychological support/therapy (27%), movement advice (26%), meditation/mindfulness (26%) and spiritual services (25%). As the main reasons why patients do not use additional approaches, lack of knowledge about these treatments and the lack of availability in their facility were mentioned.

dr. Jonas therefore emphasized that hospitals and doctors have to offer more nursing options in addition to traditional cancer treatment in order to increase patients' satisfaction and to improve the quality and lifespan of cancer patients. By offering medical providers integrative health care, you can meet the increasing demand of patients. "It is up to us as a health supplier to learn and support more treatment options that go beyond pills and procedures," said Dr. Jonas Finally.