ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2016
Oncologists' experiences of discussing complementary and alternative treatment options with their cancer patients. A qualitative analysis.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Physicians' Knowledge and Experiences of Counseling on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine in Cancer Care: a Qualitative Systematic Review.Current oncology reports · 2026Pooled it
- Communication Between Cancer Patients and Physicians About Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Systematic Review.Journal of integrative and complementary medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Addressing Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Individuals With Cancer: An Integrative Review and Clinical Practice Guideline.Journal of the National Cancer Institute · 2022Guideline
- Perception of integrating complementary and alternative medicine practice in patient's treatment among the healthcare practitioners: a systematic review.The Pan African medical journal · 2022Pooled it
- Communication between Norwegian Pakistani patients and healthcare providers about traditional and complementary medicine: a qualitative study.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025Article
- Comparing the Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals and Cancer Patients Toward the Integration and Perceived Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Beyond the Basics: Exploring Pharmacokinetic Interactions and Safety in Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitor Oral Therapy for Solid Tumors.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Communication About Complementary and Alternative Medicine When Patients Decline Conventional Cancer Treatment: Patients' and Physicians' Experiences.The oncologist · 2023Article
- Response-An Extreme Ordeal: Writing Emotion in Qualitative Research.Journal of bioethical inquiry · 2022Article
- A pre-post evaluation of oncology healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices following the implementation of a complementary medicine practice guideline.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Article
- Article
- Unmonitored use of herbal medicine by patients with breast cancer: reframing expectations.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe rising use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) means oncologists are increasingly asked by patients to discuss CAM treatment options. However, no formal training or established standards are available on the subject. The aim of this paper was to investigate real-world discussions of CAM treatments. In particular, we wanted to learn about the values, norms and defining features that characterise oncologist-patient discussions on CAM.
methodsSemi-standardised interviews with 17 oncologists were analysed using interpretation pattern analysis combined with thematic analysis.
resultsAdvice on CAM is seen by oncologists as an important service they provide to their patients, even though their knowledge of the subject is often limited. Many interviewees mentioned an apparent lack of scientific proof, especially when their aim was to warn patients against the use of CAM. Discussions on CAM tend to reflect the idea that CAM belongs 'to another world', and judging by the interviews with oncologists, this notion appears to be shared by patients and oncologists alike.
conclusionsOncologists require reliable information on CAM and would profit from training in the communication of CAM treatment options to patients. Knowing scientific data on CAM would also lower barriers stemming from the view that CAM belongs 'to another world'. Under- and postgraduate education programmes should include training on how to respond to requests addressing possible CAM options.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.