Physician Perspectives on Unconventional Cancer Therapies

Abstract

The popularity of unconventional therapies has grown dramatically in recent years. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study investigating the perspectives of physicians involved with cancer care regarding their reactions to this trend and their ways of trying to meet associated challenges. Nine oncologists, nine general practitioners, and one surgeon were interviewed over the telephone, employing open-ended questions. The physicians were unanimously interested in having information available about unconventional therapies. They also expressed a desire to be supportive of patient choices in this area, provided conventional therapy was not compromised. However, there was little interest in initiating communication about unconventional therapies, with most seeing such discussions as a poor use of their time. Suggestions for future research, as well as educational and policy strategies, are addressed.