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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anne M. Doherty-Gilman, MPH, Cynthia Medeiros, LICSW, Elizabeth Dean-Clower, MD, MPH, Weidong Lu, MB, MPH, LicAc, and David S. Rosenthal, MD. Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, 617-632-3810, Anne_Doherty@dfci.harvard.edu

People with cancer frequently use Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) to alleviate symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, pain,and anxiety. One study indicated that approximately83% of patients across a broad-spectrum of malignancies use CAM. With prayer excluded, the most frequently used are vitamins/herbs, movement&physical therapies. Patient expectations are that CAM modalities will improve their quality of life(qol), alleviate symptoms, prolong life, cure disease, or boost immune system. Patients turn to CAM because of hope it brings,perceived lack of toxicity, and their desire to gain control.

Through complementary clinical services, education, and research, cancer patients can re-gain control and be empowered to actively participate in their careplans. Six years ago, development began for a CAMprogram in oncology setting in order to enhance patients' qol. The program,developed on-site in a conventional healthcare facility,to provide medically supervised therapies (acupuncture, massage, reiki, musictherapy, nutrition,…) that were convenient for patients to access and were available regardless of financial situation. Patients and clinicians responded favorably to this program and with >4000 encounters presently, they continue to request more services.As demand increases,the public health arena needs to prepare to incorporate CAMservices in a safe and effective manner into public health programs being offered now. Patients and clinicians are demanding CAMservices as a human right.

This presentation will describe challenges and opportunites for integration of CAM programs into public health systems, detail this program's specific utilization and effective strategies for patient and community involvement,describe patient and clinician satisfaction reports, and discuss community partnerships, public health benefits, and successful techniques for integration.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, the participant will be able to
• Define cancer patient usage of CAM in the United States.
• Explain why CAM is an appropriate intervention for cancer related symptoms.
• Discuss integration challenges and opportunities for this program.
• Understand the public health responsibility for providing safe and efficacious CAM services.
• Describe a program that has successfully integrated CAM.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No