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INTRODUCTION: The demand for complementary medicine (CM) is well studied in the outpatient sector, but representative data on type and extent of inpatient care using CM are missing. Therefore, our aim was to examine the range of CM treatments offered and the types of indications for using CM in acute care hospitals in the German state of Bavaria. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey by contacting the medical heads of all 388 Bavarian acute care hospitals between November 2020 and April 2021. The questionnaire included a wide range of CM to assessed availability of CM supply, most frequent indications, and medical specialities. Furthermore, we assessed basic information about the hospital and the participating medical staff. RESULTS: A total of 101 (26%) hospitals participated in the survey. At least one CM treatment was offered by 92% of the responding hospitals and 75% offered at least 5 therapy modalities (mean of 10 treatments, range: 0-25). These were most commonly massage therapies (68%), relaxation techniques (63%), phytotherapy (60%), mindfulness-based treatments (53%), art, diet, and exercise therapies (each 48%), aromatherapy (46%), acupuncture, and compresses/poultices (both 42%). The most reported medical conditions for CM treatments (in descending order) were chronic pain, mental disorders, degenerative affections, sleep disorders, fatigue syndrome, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and acute pain. CONCLUSION: According to the Bavarian acute care hospitals that participated in our postal survey, a considerable part offered CM. Further research should include personal interviews and more detailed assessments of indications and attitudes for the use of CM in acute care hospital settings.
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Terapias Complementares , Humanos , Estudos Transversais , Fitoterapia , Hospitais , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Introduction: National and international guidelines recommend early integration of evidence-based multimodal interventions and programs, especially with a focus on relaxation techniques and other Mind-Body-based methods to maintain the quality of life of oncology patients, improve treatment tolerability, and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. Consequently, we aim to understand what drives patients and how they navigate integrative medicine to best advise them. This study aimed to detect possible topics of particular interest to patients and identify the patient groups that could benefit most from further programs. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate if patients are open-minded toward integrative oncology concepts and learn about their motivational level to maintain or change behavior. Methods: Between August 2019 and October 2020 we surveyed patients undergoing oncological therapy in a university oncological outpatient center using a custom-developed questionnaire based on established Mind-Body Medicine concepts. Results: We included 294 patients with various cancers. More than half reported problems sleeping through (61%) and 42% felt stressed frequently, invariably rating this as detrimental to their health. Moreover, a slight majority (52%) felt physically limited due to their disease and only 30% performed defined exercise programs. Women were significantly more likely to feel stressed and reported with alarming frequency that they often feel "everything was up to them." The 40-65-year-olds reported significantly less restful sleep, more stress and were more dissatisfied with their situation. However, this group already used natural remedies most frequently and was most often motivated to use relaxation techniques in the next 6 months. The lower the perceived individual energy level (EL), the less frequently patients did sport, the more frequently they felt their disease impaired their activity, mostly feeling stressed and tense. We also found significant associations between negative emotions/thoughts and the variables "sleep," "use of relaxation techniques," "personal stress perception," and "successful lifestyle modification." Conclusion: Mind-Body programs that focus on patient's individual resources, with tools to explore impairing patterns of self-perception and cognitive biases, can be a valuable resource for oncology patients and should therefore be part of an integrative medical treatment concept.
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BACKGROUND: In Germany, complementary medicine is used by up to 62% of patients, but type and extent of in-patient complementary care are not known. The objective of this study was, therefore, to conduct a survey on complementary medicine procedures in Bavarian acute care hospitals by screening the websites of all respective facilities in order to cover a broad range of complementary procedures. METHODS: In 2020, an independent and comprehensive website screening of all 389 Bavarian acute hospitals, including all departments, was conducted by two independent raters. Complementary medicine procedures offered were analysed in total as well as separately by specialty. RESULTS: Among all 389 Bavarian acute care hospitals, 82% offered at least one and 66% at least three different complementary procedures on their website. Relaxation techniques (52%), acupuncture (44%), massage (41%), movement-, art-, and music therapy (33%, 30%, and 28%), meditative movement therapies like yoga (30%), and aromatherapy (29%) were offered most frequently. Separated by specialty, complementary procedures were most common in psychiatry/psychosomatics (relaxation techniques 69%, movement and art therapy 60% each) at 87%, and in gynaecology/obstetrics (most common acupuncture 64%, homeopathy 60%, and aromatherapy 41%) at 72%. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of Bavarian acute care hospitals also seem to conduct complementary medicine procedures in therapy, especially for psychological indications and in obstetrics and gynaecology, according to the hospital websites. How often these procedures are used in inpatient or outpatient settings as well as evidence on effectiveness of the applied procedures should be investigated in further studies.