Integrating Complementary Medicine in Palliative Care: A Call for an Inter-Disciplinary Collaboration
Journal Title: Palliative Medicine & Hospice Care – Open Journal - Year 2016, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
The interplay between complementary medicine and palliative care, both of which emphasize a patient-centered approach in order to improve quality of life-related concerns, is extremely important in the oncology setting. The integration of evidence-based complementary medicine therapies within conventional palliative care can expand the available treatment options, especially for chemotherapy-induced toxicities for which conventional medicine options are often limited. The integration of complementary medicine in palliative care may also provide an opportunity to address the bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual perspectives of care among those patients and caregivers for whom traditional medicine plays and important role in their health belief model. This integration should evolve as an inter-disciplinary process, as opposed to the intra-disciplinary approach which is being taken in most oncology settings. The inter-disciplinary approach recognizes the variance in approach to patient care, while facilitating a multi-disciplinary approach and enabling specialists from both domains to provide care based on their clinical expertise as well as their perceived health-belief models of care.
Authors and Affiliations
Michael Silbermann
Keywords
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- EP ID EP548718
- DOI 10.17140/PMHCOJ-2-e003
- Views 209
- Downloads 0
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