PHYSICIAN PERSPECTIVES ON UNCONVENTIONAL CANCER THERAPIES

The popularity of unconventional therapies has grown dramatically in r ecent years. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study invest igating the perspectives of physicians involved with cancer care regar ding their reactions to this trend and their ways of trying to meet as sociated 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 infor mation available about unconventional therapies. They also expressed a desire to be supportive of patient choices in this area, provided con ventional therapy was not compromised. However, there was little inter est in initiating communication about unconventional therapies, with m ost seeing such discussions as a poor use of their time. Suggestions f or future research, as well as educational and policy strategies, are addressed.