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Training oncology physicians to advise their patients on complementary and integrative medicine: An implementation study for a manual‐guided consultation
Author(s) -
Witt Claudia M.,
Helmer Stefanie M.,
Schofield Penelope,
Wastell Marisa,
Canella Claudia,
Thomae Anita V.,
Rogge Alizé A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.32823
Subject(s) - medicine , competence (human resources) , context (archaeology) , documentation , integrative medicine , medline , oncology , patient safety , medical education , alternative medicine , health care , psychology , pathology , social psychology , paleontology , computer science , political science , law , biology , programming language , economics , economic growth
Background The unmonitored use of complementary medicine in patients with cancer can be associated with an increased risk of safety‐related issues, such as lower adherence to conventional cancer therapies. Training oncology physicians to advise their patients about the effectiveness and safety of these therapies could improve this situation. Methods The objective of this study was to develop and pretest a consultation framework that has high potential to be widely implemented. The framework comprises: 1) a systematically developed and tested, manualized, guided consultation; and 2) blended learning training (e‐learning and communication skills training workshop) to upskill oncology physicians in advising their patients on complementary and integrative medicine (CIM). For this implementation study, mixed methods were used to develop the manual (literature review, consensus procedure, pilot testing) and the training (questionnaires and interviews with oncology physicians and patients with cancer and an examination of the skills in a setting with standardized patients). Results The training was tested with 47 oncology physicians from across Germany. The manual‐guided consultation (context: general information on the setting and communication techniques; inform: consultation duration and content; capture: previous CIM use; prioritize: focus on consultation; advise: evidence‐based CIM recommendations; discuss, advise, accept, or advise against other CIM; concretize advice: summary and implementation; and monitor: documentation) was considered suitable. The structure and time frame (maximum, 20 minutes) of the consultation as well as the training were feasible and well accepted. Conclusions The current study demonstrates that the KOKON‐KTO framework (a German acronym for Competence Network for Complementary Medicine ‐ Consultation Training for Oncology Physicians) is suitable for training oncology physicians. Its implementation can lead to better physician‐patient communication about CIM in cancer.