Complementary therapies: What are we talking about?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Complementary therapies are widely used by cancer patients throughout their treatment journey.
• Patient use reflects a desire for well-being and autonomy, alongside personal satisfaction.
• Current practice lacks clear definitions, standardized regulations, and consistent practitioner training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the necessity of acknowledging and integrating complementary therapies into cancer care.
• To emphasize the need for rigorous clinical studies to establish efficacy and safety.
• To advocate for an interdisciplinary approach to integrative oncology.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices and literature regarding complementary therapies in oncology.
• Identification of gaps in definitions, regulations, and training for practitioners.
• Proposal for developing methodologically sound clinical studies for evidence generation.

Main Results:

• Complementary therapies are an integral part of cancer patient care, impacting well-being and autonomy.
• There is a significant need for standardization in terminology, regulation, and practitioner education.
• High-quality clinical research is essential to scientifically validate the efficacy and safety of these therapies.

Conclusions:

• Integrating complementary therapies into supportive care is crucial for optimizing patient quality of care and overall management.
• An interdisciplinary approach is fundamental to successful integrative oncology.
• Consideration of complementary therapies at institutional, service, and patient care pathway levels is recommended.