Health-care providers’ perception and communication about traditional and complementary medicine in childhood cancer in Indonesia

Abstract

BackgroundTraditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) usage in childhood cancer is common. Effective communication about T&CM is a keystone in successful childhood cancer treatment to prevent abandonment of conventional cancer treatment. This study explored health-care providers’ (HCP) perception and communication about T&CM in childhood cancer care. MethodsA cross-sectional study at an Indonesian academic hospital using semi-structured questionnaires. ResultsAltogether,175 HCP (response rate 83%) participated. Only 2% of HCP describe their view on T&CM as positive. Most HCP (90%) think that their cancer patients use T&CM.Main concerns about T&CM of HCP are: giving false hope to vulnerable patients (88%), lack of evidence that T&CM works (87%), and their own limited T&CM knowledge (80%). Significantly more doctors (88%) than other HCP (69%) are concerned about doctor's inadequate knowledge of T&CM (P = 0.006). Almost all HCP (96%) think that parents should receive guidance by doctors in hospital about potential beneficial and harmful effects of T&CM. HCP (91%) find it important that parents inform them if their child with cancer uses T&CM. Yet, only 5% of HCP always ask parents whether they use T&CM. Most HCP think that parents are afraid to disclose their T&CM use to doctors (78%) and subsequently do not inform their doctors (76%) out of fear to receive less care from doctors (55%). Parents actually do receive less care from doctors if they disclose interest in T&CM according to 31% of HCP. ConclusionHCP should update their knowledge about T&CM. Doctors should openly discuss T&CM with parents, without penalizing them after T&CM disclosure.