Defining research priorities in complementary medicine in oncology

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is rising among cancer patients, yet robust evidence supporting its efficacy is limited.
• Identifying research priorities is crucial for guiding future studies and informing stakeholders like funders, researchers, and consumers.
• A consensus-driven approach is needed to address the growing evidence gap in CAM for cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a prioritized research agenda for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in oncology.
• To identify key research questions that will inform the evidence base for CAM treatments in cancer care.
• To achieve consensus among diverse stakeholders on the most impactful CAM research areas.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi process was employed, involving integrative medicine experts, oncologists, consumer representatives, and CAM practitioners and researchers.
• Participants engaged in three online rounds to recommend, rank, and refine CAM research priorities based on usefulness and impact on cancer care.
• A Likert scale was used for ranking, and lower-ranking priorities were eliminated iteratively to achieve consensus.

Main Results:

• From 122 initial propositions, top-ranked priorities included studying interactions between biologically based CAM and conventional cancer treatments.
• Further key areas identified were examining CAM's effects on quality of life and developing effective communication strategies regarding CAM use.
• The role of physical activity in symptom relief and cancer prevention, alongside acupuncture's role in cancer care, were also highlighted.

Conclusions:

• The modified Delphi process successfully achieved consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders on a highly debated topic.
• A structured collaboration resulted in a priority research list that serves as a blueprint for CAM research in oncology.
• This consensus-building method ensures the research agenda is acceptable to all stakeholders, facilitating future CAM research in Australia.