Australian oncologists' self-reported knowledge and attitudes about non-traditional therapies used by cancer patients

Objective: To assess Australian radiation and medical oncologists' self-rep orted knowledge about and attitudes towards a range of non-traditional ther apies used by people with cancer. Design: Postal survey during May and June 1997 of all 265 radiation and med ical oncologists practising in Australia. Participants: 161 oncologists returned surveys (61% response rate). Main outcome measures: Oncologists' own level of knowledge, and, for each k nown therapy, their perceptions of its likely harm or benefit in patients b eing treated curatively and palliatively, and of the prevalence of use amon g their patients. Results: Oncologists reported knowing most about acupuncture, antioxidant t herapy and meditation and least about cellular therapy, magnetotherapy and psychic surgery. The therapies most likely to be considered helpful were me ditation, acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Those most likely to be considered harmful were coffee enemas, psychic surgery, Iscador therapy and diet thera pies. Perceptions of patients' use of most therapies varied widely, with he rbal therapies, antioxidant therapy and meditation considered the most comm only used. Conclusions: These results indicate self-identified gaps in oncologists' kn owledge about non-traditional therapies their patients may use; they sugges t a need to consider including education about these therapies in oncologis ts' training.