Issues that influence patient/physician discussion of complementary therapies

This article explores what patients expect from physicians when discussing complementary therapies. Counsellors at four cancer centres, under the auspices of the British Columbia Cancer Agency, discuss their clinical observations in working with oncology patients. They present perspectives of factors that influence the patient/physician discussion of complementary therapies. Some of the common themes include desire for collaboration and control, need for understanding treatment information, maintenance of hope, and trust of the physician.