[Shared Decision Making (SDM) - Patient and Physician as a Team]. / Partizipative Entscheidungsfindung (PEF) ­ Patient und Arzt als Team.

The article provides an overview on Shared Decision Making (SDM), which is considered as the ideal form of physician-patient-interaction by many stakeholders of the health care system. SDM is distinguished from other models of physician-patient-interaction such as the paternalistic model and the information model. Besides the degree of acceptance of SDM in the general population and among physicians, barriers for its implementation will be reported. Indications for SDM as well as strategies and support material for its use in individual consultations will be discussed and illustrated by an oncological case study. Effects of SDM for patients as well as for clinicians will be highlighted. After background information on origins of SDM, its significance with regard to health policy in Germany is discussed.

[Importance of complementary medicine approaches for patients with prostate cancer]. / Bedeutung komplementärmedizinischer Verfahren bei Patienten mit Prostatakarzinom.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, many prostate cancer patients use complementary medicine (CM) or have an interest in these treatment approaches; however, the information and consultation situation of cancer patients is insufficient and therefore the Competence Network Complementary Medicine in Oncology (COCON) was launched by the German Cancer Aid Society. One of the projects of the COCON examines the use of CM and the information and counseling needs regarding these topics in various groups of cancer patients. The focus of this article is on the qualitative study reporting selected results for the subgroup of prostate cancer patients. STUDY DESIGN AND STUDY METHODS: A total of 19 semi-structured qualitative interviews with prostate cancer patients were conducted regarding the use of CM as well as their information and consultation needs. RESULTS: It was found that the patients interviewed discussed various issues surrounding nutrition, particularly a healthy diet, the selective use of certain foods and the use of dietary supplements. Additional themes mentioned by interviewees were physical exercise, psychological well-being, mistletoe therapy, homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine. Patients indicated that they wanted more information and counseling opportunities with regards to CM. They also expressed a desire for more holistic care. CONCLUSION: The results show that prostate cancer patients use a range of CM and have a need for information about CM. Prostate cancer patients are in a special situation because of a regular feedback on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value. This should be taken into consideration in consultation with prostate cancer patients regarding CM.