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What Do Patients & Oncologists Have to Say?
The Healing Works Foundation released survey results in late 2023 for Wave 2: US Patient & Oncologist Awareness, Usage, & Attitudes Toward Whole Person Integrative Oncology, which included feedback from over 1,000 cancer patients and 150 oncologists throughout the United States. Some of their survey results have been summarized below.
"'Navigating a cancer diagnosis is about treating the whole person, not just the disease,' said Wayne Jonas, MD, President of Healing Works, a non-profit dedicated to the integration of healing and curing in routine health care delivery. 'Oncologists are the single most influential factor in patient treatment decisions, and doctors must be educating themselves to help drive patient outcomes and treatment satisfaction. They need to understand that patients increasingly want to hear directly about all possible support during and after treatment of the cancer.'” (source)
Patient Beliefs & Interests
- More than 60% of cancer patients strongly believe in complementary therapies
- 71% of patients want their health systems to offer complementary therapies
- 45% patients would have been more satisfied with their cancer care if they had been offered more complementary modalities by their health system
- 44% of patients use integrative oncology therapies to improve their overall survival
- 42% of patients use integrative oncology therapies to manage side effects of treatment
- Patients are most interested in the following integrative oncology modalities: nutrition consultation/program (46%), exercise consultation/program (38%), mental health support/therapy (37%), massage therapy (37%), meditation/mindfulness (37%), spiritual services (35%), and patient support groups/patient-survivor pairings (33%).
Oncologist Beliefs & Interests
- 57% of oncologists believe that complementary therapies are effective at managing the side effects of treatments
- 33% of oncologists indicate that complementary therapies improve overall survival
- 85% of oncologists are interested in learning more about the evidence base of integrative oncology modalities
- 57% of oncologists support the use of integrative oncology (conventional cancer treatment plus complementary therapies) for their patients while going through cancer treatment
- 56% of oncologists support the use of complementary therapies for their patients into survivorship and remission
- Oncologists have most often personally recommended the following modalities: nutrition consultation/program (48%), patient support group/patient-survivor pairing (39%), mental health support/therapy (33%), exercise consultation/program (30%), and spiritual services (27%).
- Oncologists wanting to increase integrative oncology offerings are most interested in engaging nutritionists (72%), social workers (65%), physical therapists (51%), psychologists (46%), and pain specialists (44%) to reach their goal.
Integrative Oncology Use & Perceptions
- 64% patients report using at least one complementary therapy for cancer care, however most patients don't share this usage with their oncologists so oncologists are under the impression that fewer patients (40%) use complementary therapies
“'A communication gap — not an interest gap — appears to be one of the biggest barriers between patients and oncologists when exploring complementary options to support overall treatment,' said Jonas. 'Clinicians need to be proactive and talk to their patients about evidence-based integrative health options early in the process, before patients go exploring on their own, and possibly getting into trouble.'” (source)
Patient Usage Among Demographic Groups
- Hispanic (92%) and African American (83%) patients report the highest usage of complementary therapies and are interested in learning more about them.
- 70% of female patients support the use of complementary therapies, while actual usage is nearly equal between men (62%) and women (66%).
- Younger patients (ages 18-50) are more likely to use a range of complementary therapies, especially mental health support/therapy, nutrition counseling and meditation or mindfulness.
- 67% of urban patients, 62% suburban patients, and 59% rural patients support the use of integrative oncology (conventional cancer treatment plus complementary therapies) while going through cancer treatment.
- For increasing usage even further, male and female patients have different needs: Males need more convincing of the benefits, in both the scientific data and understanding of how it will help them. Females need more tangible help with locating and paying for complementary services. Females are also driven more than males to be part of their own healing and get through the activities of daily living.
