Compared perspectives of Arab patients in the Palestinian Authority and Israel on the role of complementary medicine in cancer care.

2015 Jan 1

01/01/2015

PubMed:

J Pain Symptom Manage 2015;49:878-84.

By Ben-Arye E, Hamadeh A, Schiff E, Jamous RM, Dagash J, Jamous R, Agbarya A, Bar-Sela G, Massalha E, Silbermann M, Ali-Shtayeh MS.

Context: Complementary medicine (CM) is extensively used by patients with cancer across the Middle East.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the perspectives of two Arab populations residing in diverse socioeconomic-cultural settings in Palestine and Israel regarding the role of CM in supportive cancer care.

Methods: A 27-item questionnaire was constructed and administered to a convenience sample of Arab patients receiving cancer care in four oncology centers in northern Israel and Palestine.

Results: Each of the two groups had 324 respondents and was equally distributed by age and marital status. Compared with the Israeli-Arab group, Palestinian participants reported significantly higher CM use for cancer-related outcomes (63.5% vs. 39.6%, P < 0.001), which included more herbal use (97.6% vs. 87.9%, P = 0.001) and significantly lower use of dietary supplements, acupuncture, mind-body and manual therapies, and homeopathy. Most respondents in both groups stated that they would consult CM providers if CM was integrated in oncology departments. Related to this theoretical integrative scenario, Palestinian respondents expressed fewer expectations from their oncologists to actively participate in building their CM treatment plan. Treatment expectations in both groups focused on improving quality of life (QOL), whereas Palestinian respondents had fewer expectations for CM to improve fatigue, emotional concerns, sleep, and daily functioning.

Conclusion: Arab patients with cancer from Palestine and Israel highly support CM integration within their oncology institutions aiming to improve QOL. Nevertheless, respondents differed in their perceived model of CM integration, its treatment objectives, and their oncologists’ role in CM integration.

Keywords: Islamic medicine; Oncology; complementary and alternative medicine; doctor-patient communication; integrative medicine; palliative care; quality of life.

More publications on the subject

Feasibility study of a systematic approach for discontinuation of multiple medications in older adults: addressing polypharmacy

Background: Polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use is a problem in elderly patients, who are more likely to experience adverse effects from multiple treatments and less

The oncologist’s role in delivering palliative care

Abstract Given that such a substantial proportion of oncology patients have advanced and/or incurable cancer oncologists invariably face enormous challenges in maintaining or improving

The cultural context of patient’s autonomy and doctor’s duty: passive euthanasia and advance directives in Germany and Israel

01/11/2010

Abstract The moral discourse surrounding end-of-life (EoL) decisions is highly complex, and a comparison of Germany and Israel can highlight the impact of cultural

Selected issues in palliative care among East Jerusalem Arab residents

01/01/2010

Abstract Understanding of cultural context is important when working with Palestinian patients, particularly in Israeli hospitals. Cultural competence includes individual assessment of communication needs

End-of-life needs as perceived by terminally ill older adult patients, family and staff

01/09/2010

Abstract Purpose of the study: A comparison of inpatient end-of-life needs as perceived by terminally ill older adult patients, family, physicians and nurses, is lacking.

The cultural context of end-of-life ethics: a comparison of Germany and Israel

01/07/2010

No abstract available