A comparison of physician and patient perspectives on unconventional cancer therapies

In two related studies about unconventional cancer therapies, patients and physicians were interviewed about their experiences and opinions. In this p aper comparisons are made and implications discussed. There was general agr eement among physicians and patients about the importance of providing acce ss to information about unconventional approaches for interested patients. However, there were substantial differences in perspective on other issues, including: what constitutes 'unconventional', the helpfulness of typical p hysician responses to patients interested in or using unconventional therap ies, the proper interface between practitioners of conventional and unconve ntional therapies, the reasons for communication problems (related to uncon ventional therapies) between physicians and patients, and the proper criter ia for making decisions about unconventional therapies. Cancer specialists, family physicians and other health professionals need to look for ways to better understand and meet the needs of their patients with interests in un conventional approaches if they hope to preserve or improve relations. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.