Valerio Maria Rosaria, Scandurra Giuseppa, Greco Martina, Gebbia Vittorio, Piazza Dario, Sambataro Daniela
Medical Oncology Unit, Policlinico P. Giaccone, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Italy.
In Vivo. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):1000-1008. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13905.
BACKGROUND/AIM: A high percentage of cancer patients use complementary therapies (CM) during their disease journey. Several barriers for CM prescription still exist among oncologists. This study explored oncologists' attitudes toward prescribing CM with oral supplements or confirming prescriptions made by others.
The study employed a mixed semi-quantitative and qualitative research strategy via a web-based platform interview as a preliminary step for a program of observational studies on the oncologist's prescriptions of oral supplements in cancer management, in Italy.
Out of 95 invited oncologists, 40 participated in the study, mainly working in a general hospital or a cancer center. The deep knowledge of guidelines on integrative medicine was generally poor. The symptoms driving oncologists to initiate discussions on CM with patients were fatigue, anorexia/poor appetite, weight loss, insomnia, distress, neuropathy, or pain. The presence of reliable data in the medical literature on prescribing CM was a significant factor in choosing a supplement.
This study reveals that oncologists' limited knowledge and lack of standardized guidelines hinder the prescription of CM, despite recognizing its potential benefits. CM discussions are primarily patient-driven, with prescriptions influenced by reliable scientific data and symptom management. Expanding integrative medicine services and research on CM efficacy could enhance oncologists' confidence, improve patient care, and address unmet needs in oncology.
背景/目的：很大比例的癌症患者在其疾病进程中会使用补充替代疗法（CM）。肿瘤学家在开具CM处方方面仍存在一些障碍。本研究探讨了肿瘤学家对开具含口服补充剂的CM处方或确认他人所开处方的态度。
本研究采用混合的半定量和定性研究策略，通过基于网络平台的访谈作为意大利一项关于肿瘤学家在癌症管理中开具口服补充剂处方的观察性研究项目的初步步骤。
在95名受邀的肿瘤学家中，40人参与了研究，他们主要在综合医院或癌症中心工作。对整合医学指南的深入了解普遍较差。促使肿瘤学家与患者开始讨论CM的症状有疲劳、厌食/食欲不振、体重减轻、失眠、痛苦、神经病变或疼痛。医学文献中关于开具CM处方的可靠数据的存在是选择补充剂的一个重要因素。
本研究表明，尽管认识到CM的潜在益处，但肿瘤学家有限的知识和缺乏标准化指南阻碍了CM的处方开具。CM讨论主要由患者驱动，处方受可靠科学数据和症状管理的影响。扩大整合医学服务和对CM疗效的研究可以增强肿瘤学家的信心，改善患者护理，并满足肿瘤学中未满足的需求。
