We Want to Start with a Short Definition of the Terms Complementary and Alternative Medicine

We want to start with a short definition of the terms complementary and alternative medicine:

Complementary and alternative medicine is a broad field of different methods and drugs.

They share that mostly scientific proofs and consequently appraisal by conventional medicine is lacking.

There is a difference between complementary and alternative therapy. The former accompanies conventional therapy and is in accordance with it, while the latter is given as an alternative instead of conventional therapy or in parallel with it but without coordinationf.ex. considering interactions.

In which field do you work?

Stationary hospice

Palliative ward

Palliative counseling service

Specialized ambulatory palliative care (SAPV)

General ambulatory palliative care (AAPV)

Hospice service for outpatients

Others: ….

What is your profession?

Physician

Specialization:…..

Nurse

Physical therapy

Psychologist

Spiritual care

Volunteer

Others: …..

In which state of Germany do you work (drop down menu)

What is your personalopinion towards alternative medicine?

(As a reminder: alternative means either really instead of or in parallel but without adaptation to conventional therapy)

I refuse it

I’m undecided

I fully accept it

What is your personal opinion towards complementary medicine? (to memorize: complementary means accompanyingand in accordance with conventional therapy.)

I refuse it

I’m undecided

I fully accept it

Do you use alternative or complementary therapies yourself?

Alternative therapies

I do not use them at all

I use them from time to time

I use them on a regular base

Complementary therapies

I do not use them at all

I use them from time to time

Iuse them on a regular base

Do you have experiences with complementary and/or alternative therapy with your family or close friends?

Never

From time to time

On a regular basis

You have previously stated thatyou have experience with complementary and/or alternative therapies either personally or with relatives or close friends. How would you rate your experience on a scale from 1to 5? (1= very negative, 5= very positive)

 1 2 3 4 5

With the following methods I have hadpositive or negative experiences personally or with relatives or close friends respectively (Please list the methods):

Positive experiences: …..

Negative experiences: …..

Would you use complementary and/or alternative therapies with a relative or near friend or yourself in case of advanced cancer, if there is no other active therapy against the tumor?

Yes, I would

No, neither for myself nor for a relative

I’m undecided

Are you interested in complementary and alternative methods from a professional point of view?

Yes

No

Do you use a source of information on complementary and alternative medicine?

Yes

No

If yes, which ones (Several answers allowed):

Scientific print media

Professional training (courses etc.)

Experienced physicians

Internet

Lay media

Would you like to have more information on complementary and alternative therapies for your work?

Yes, I would like to have more information

No, I think I am adequately informed

No, I am not interested in the topic

Have you ever been asked by a patient on complementary and alternative medicine?

Never before

Seldom

On a regular base

Have you ever been asked by a relative of a patient on complementary and alternative medicine?

Never before

Seldom

On a regular base

Have you already used complementary and alternative methods in your patients?

I have already used complementary therapies.

I have already used alternative therapies.

I have already used complementary as well as alternative therapies.

So far, I did neither use complementary nor alternative therapies.

Who should be responsible mainly for counseling on and applying complementary and alternative methods for patients with cancer in a palliative setting?

The oncologist

The general practitioner

A qualified naturopath

A non-medical practitioner

Nurses with specialized training

Everybody who offers the method

Nobody, the patient has to be proactive and responsible for him

I do not know

Should complementary therapy be paid for by statutory health insurance?

Yes, in any case

Yes, to an amount of …..per month

Yes, if the physician gave a prescription

No, not in any case

I do not know

Should alternative therapy be paid for by statutory health insurance?

Yes, in any case

Yes, to an amount of …..per month

Yes, if the physician gave a prescription

No, not in any case

I do not know

Please tell us, if you would consent tothe following statements. (Participants had to mark their attitude on a 4 point Likertscale between “I fully consent” to “I do not consent at all”

I would use alternative therapies in a patient with advanced cancer unlimited

I would use alternative treatments if there is no other therapy against cancer and the patient has a desire to be treated

I would use complementary therapy additionally to conventional therapy in a patient with advanced tumor without limitations.

You have accepted one or more of the previous statements. Which criteria would you accept for a choice on complementary and alternative therapy?

I would accept any recommendation, as long as the patient feels, that this will alleviate his symptoms.

I would fully inform myself on the therapy chosen by the patient and then make a decision.

In your opinion, what speaks for or against using complementary and alternative therapy in palliative patients with cancer?

These methods maybe do not help but they neither can do any harm

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

These methods have positive effects on palliative patients with cancer

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

These methods can make the patient less compliant with important recommendations regarding therapy.

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

These methods may help the patient to better cope with his disease.

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

As science does not know much on these methods, I do not recommend them.

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

These methods can have negative interactions with drugs from palliative care.

This is not true at allThis is rather not true  This is rather true  This is fully true

In the following list of different methods from CAM, please mark what you think of each one.

Finally we would like to ask for some personal data:

How old are you? ……….years

Your sex:

Male

Female

In which country have you been born?

Germany

Inanother country, namely: ………