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Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department

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Abstract

Background. The increased use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with cancer is a significant phenomenon in cancer care and suggests the need for increased knowledge by clinicians of these therapies. Methods. Aiming at bridging the gap in knowledge of the philosophy and practice of major CAM modalities in cancer care, an elective course was offered to physicians and nurses in a large academic center. Results. The course also aimed at providing the tools necessary to establish open and trusting clinician-patient dialogue regarding CAM. Conclusions. Exposure to the course was successful in improving knowledge and attitudes.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Eran Ben-Arye

    Present address: Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 6 Hashahaf Street, 35013, Haifa, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 6 Hashahaf Street, 35013, Haifa, Israel

    Moshe Frenkel & Doron Hermoni

  2. Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Haifa, Israel

    Eran Ben-Arye, Moshe Frenkel & Doron Hermoni

  3. the Integrative Medicine Program, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

    Moshe Frenkel

  4. Department of Oncology, Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Gil Bar-Sela & Abraham Kuten

  5. Section on Humanities and Law, Department of Preventive & Societal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha

    Ruth Stashefsky Margalit

Authors
  1. Eran Ben-Arye
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  2. Moshe Frenkel
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  3. Gil Bar-Sela
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  4. Ruth Stashefsky Margalit
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  5. Doron Hermoni
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  6. Abraham Kuten
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eran Ben-Arye.

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Ben-Arye, E., Frenkel, M., Bar-Sela, G. et al. Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department. J Canc Educ 23, 46–50 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190701821261

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