Integrating Complementary Medicine and Supportive Care: Patients' Perspectives Toward Complementary Medicine and Spirituality

Ben‐Arye, Eran; Schiff, Elad; Vintal, Haya; Agour, Olga; Preis, Liora; Steiner, Mariana

doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0327

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Consistent with the literature and previous findings, breastfeeding women identified the need for more in-depth information, including scientific evaluation of the efficacy and safety of herbal galactagogues and other herbal medicines during breastfeeding [22,28,33]. Women expect health professionals to have adequate knowledge and to be willing to offer advice and discussion over alternative therapies to promote breastfeeding performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women using herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding: a qualitative study

Sim

Hattingh

Sherriff

et al. 2014

BMC Complement Altern Med

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BackgroundSome herbal galactagogues have gained reputation and recognition by the public and health professionals as alternative approaches to increase breast milk supply. This study explores the perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women towards the use of herbal galactagogues while breastfeeding, their experiences, and why and how they have chosen an alternative option over conventional treatments to enhance breastfeeding performance.MethodsThis exploratory research was conducted through in-depth semi-structured interviews with women living in Perth, Western Australia, who were using one or more herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding. Purposeful and subsequent snowball sampling methods were employed to recruit participants. All interviews, facilitated by an interview guide, were audio-recorded, then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data to construct themes and subthemes.ResultsThe perspectives and attitudes of the 20 participants are classified under three main headings: i) use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding, ii) available herbal medicines resources, and iii) level of breastfeeding support received. Throughout the interviews, participants described how their perseverance and determination to breastfeed, as well as concerns over breastfed infants’ safety with conventional treatments, influenced their choice of therapy. A sense of self-efficacy and autonomy over their own health needs was seen as influential to their confidence level, supported self-empowerment and provided reassurance throughout the breastfeeding journey. There was also a desire for more evidence-based information and expectations of health professionals to provide credible and reliable information regarding the use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding.ConclusionsThis study has enhanced our understanding of the perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women towards the use of herbal medicines, in particular galactagogues, while breastfeeding. The positive attitudes of breastfeeding women identified in this study highlight the need for further research into evaluating the safety and efficacy of commonly used herbal galactagogues, whilst the negative views on breastfeeding education should be taken into consideration when implementing or improving breastfeeding-related health policies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women using herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding: a qualitative study

Sim

Hattingh

Sherriff

et al. 2014

BMC Complement Altern Med

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“…However, cultural and spiritual attractors of nonwestern CAM have been discussed in recent years [45, 46] and are beginning to be researched [47, 48]. The rather late awareness of spiritual aspects in CAM might be due to the impact that the methodology of Evidence-based Medicine (EbM) had on the medical system as such and in particular on research initiatives in CAM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ayurveda: Between Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine

Kessler

Wischnewsky

Michalsen

et al. 2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Ayurveda is playing a growing part in Europe. Questions regarding the role of religion and spirituality within Ayurveda are discussed widely. Yet, there is little data on the influence of religious and spiritual aspects on its European diffusion. Methods. A survey was conducted with a new questionnaire. It was analysed by calculating frequency variables and testing differences in distributions with the χ 2-Test. Principal Component Analyses with Varimax Rotation were performed. Results. 140 questionnaires were analysed. Researchers found that individual religious and spiritual backgrounds influence attitudes and expectations towards Ayurveda. Statistical relationships were found between religious/spiritual backgrounds and decisions to offer/access Ayurveda. Accessing Ayurveda did not exclude the simultaneous use of modern medicine and CAM. From the majority's perspective Ayurveda is simultaneously a science, medicine, and a spiritual approach. Conclusion. Ayurveda seems to be able to satisfy the individual needs of therapists and patients, despite worldview differences. Ayurvedic concepts are based on anthropologic assumptions including different levels of existence in healing approaches. Thereby, Ayurveda can be seen in accordance with the prerequisites for a Whole Medical System. As a result of this, intimate and individual therapist-patient relationships can emerge. Larger surveys involving bigger participant numbers with fully validated questionnaires are warranted to support these results.

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“…Perhaps its significance was confounded in our results by the fact that younger Israelis show increased spirituality [40], or it may provide evidence for a cross-cultural difference. Educational level, significant in every prior study though not always in the same direction, was not significant here, perhaps suggesting that it, too, can reflect cultural difference.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural differences in spiritual care: findings of an Israeli oncologic questionnaire examining patient interest in spiritual care

2014

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BackgroundAs professional spiritual care (chaplaincy) is introduced to new cultures worldwide, it bears examining which elements of screening and care are universal and, for those elements showing cultural difference, to study them in each culture. No quantitative spiritual care patient study had previously been done in Israel. Our objectives were twofold: 1) to examine who wants spiritual care in Israel, including demographic and clinical variables, and to compare against other results worldwide to further develop universal screening protocols 2) to see what patients want from spiritual care specifically in the Israeli setting.MethodsSelf-administered patient questionnaire examining spirituality/religiosity, interest in spiritual care (subdivided by type of care), and key demographic, social, and clinical data. The study setting was an Israeli oncology center at which spiritual care had been recently introduced.ResultsData from 364 oncology patient questionnaires found 41% interest in spiritual care, as compared to 35%-54% in American studies. Having previously been visited by a spiritual caregiver predicted patient interest in further spiritual care (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.6), suggesting that the new service is being well-received. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis identified additional predictors of openness to receiving spiritual care: self-describing as somewhat/very spiritual vs. not spiritual (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.9 and 6.3, 95% CI 1.8-8.6 and 2.6-15.1) or traditional/religious vs. secular (AOR 2.2 and 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.6 and 1.1-4.0); and receiving one visit a week or less from family and friends (AOR 5.6, 95% CI 2.1-15.1). These findings are in line with previous American studies, suggesting universality across cultures that could be utilized in screening. Differences in demographic data and medical condition were not significant predictors of patient interest, suggesting a cultural difference, where age and education were predictors in the American context. Levels of interest in explicitly religious or spiritual support such as prayer or addressing religious/spiritual questions were much lower than in other cultures.ConclusionsResults illustrate the demand for and satisfaction with the new Israeli service. The cross-cultural comparison found both culture-dependent and possibly universal predictors of patient interest, and found lower interest in Israel for explicitly religious/spiritual types of support.

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Integrating Complementary Medicine and Supportive Care: Patients' Perspectives Toward Complementary Medicine and Spirituality

Abstract: Higher degree of spiritual quest is associated with increased CAM use, and higher expectations from CAM providers and social workers in the context of CAM integration within cancer care.

Cited by 22 publications

References 23 publications

Perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women using herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding: a qualitative study

Perspectives and attitudes of breastfeeding women using herbal galactagogues during breastfeeding: a qualitative study

Ayurveda: Between Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine

Cultural differences in spiritual care: findings of an Israeli oncologic questionnaire examining patient interest in spiritual care

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