Increasing numbers of people have been supplementing their health care needs with complementary therapies. Complementary therapies have been used to promote health and treat patients with a variety of ailments. Types of complementary therapies used with terminally ill patients have included massage, therapeutic touch, Reiki, art and music therapy, aromatherapy, and hypnotherapy. The purpose of this study was to survey primary caregivers (PCGs) regarding their perceptions and satisfaction with a hospice complementary therapy program. Perhaps this study’s most interesting finding is that patients who received complementary therapies were generally more satisfied with overall hospice services.
Coss R, McGrath P, Caggiano V: Alternative care: Patient choices for adjunct therapies within a cancer center. Cancer Pract. 1998; 6: 176-181.
2.
Murray RH, Rubel AJ: Physicians and healers—unwitting partners in health care. N Engl J Med. 1992; 326: 61-64.
3.
Fisher P, Ward A: Complementary medicine in Europe. Br Med J. 1994; 309(6947): 107-110.
4.
Alt Ther in Health & Med. 1997; 3(2): 49-57.
5.
Larkin M: Alternative medicine center aims for mainstream status. Lancet. 2001; 358 (9281): 566.
6.
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, et al.: Unconventional medicine in the United States: Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. N Engl J Med. 1993; 328(4): 246-252.
7.
Millar WJ: Use of alternative health care practitioners by Canadians. Can J Pub Health. 1996; 88: 154-162.
8.
Doan B: Alternative and complementary therapies. In Holland JC, Breitbart W (eds.): Psycho-Oncology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998: 817-827.
9.
Sparber A, Bauer L, Curt G, et al.: Use of complementary medicine by adult patients participating in cancer clinical trials. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2000; 27(6): 887-888.
10.
Walker LG, Walker MB, Ogston K, et al.: Psychological, clinical, and pathological effects of relaxation training and guided imagery during primary chemotherapy. Br J Cancer. 1999; 80(1-2): 262-268.
11.
Burns DS: The effect of the Bonny method of guided imagery and music on the mood and life quality of cancer patients. J Music Ther. 2001; 38(1): 51-65.
12.
Smith MC, Stallings MA, Mariner S, et al.:Benefits of massage therapy for hospitalized patients: A descriptive and qualitative evaluation. Alt Ther in Health & Med. 1999; 5(4): 64-71.
13.
Kemper KJ, Sarah R, Silver-Highfield E, et al.: On pins and needles? Pediatric pain patients’ experience with acupuncture. Pediatrics. 2000; 105(4): 941-947.
14.
Duggan J, Peterson WS, Schutz M, et al.: Use of complementary and alternative therapies in HIV-infected patients. AIDS Patient Care STDs. 2001; 15(3): 159-167.
15.
Phillips KD, Skelton WD: Effects of individualized acupuncture on sleep quality in HIV disease. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2001; 12(1): 27-39.
16.
Birk TJ, McGrady A, MacArthur RD, et al.: The effects of massage therapy alone and in combination with other complementary therapies on immune system measures and quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus. J Altern Complement Med. 2000; 6(5): 405-414.
17.
Ellis V, Hill J, Campbell H: Strengthening the family unit through the healing power of massage. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1995; 12(5): 19-21.
18.
Zamierowski MJ, Gordon A: The use of creative art forms to enhance counselling skills of hospice professionals in dealing with the bereaved. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1995; 12(1): 5-8.
19.
Howdyshell C: Complementary therapy: Aromatherapy with massage for geriatric and hospice care—a call for a holistic approach. Hospice J. 1998; 13(3): 69-75.
20.
Starr RJ: Music therapy in hospice care. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1999; 16(6): 739-742.
21.
Finlay IG, Jones OL: Hypnotherapy in palliative care. J R Soc Med. 1996; 89(9): 493-496.
22.
Chlan L, Tracy MF: Music therapy in critical care: Indications and guidelines for intervention. Crit Care Nurse. 1999; 19(3): 35-41.
23.
O’Callaghan CC: Pain, music creativity, and music therapy in palliative care. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1996; 13(2): 43-49.
24.
Trauger-Querry B, Haghighi BR: Balancing the focus: Art and music therapy for pain control and symptom management in hospice care. Hospice J. 1999; 14(1): 25-36.
25.
Wyatt GK, et al.: Complementary therapy use among older cancer patients. Cancer Pract. 1999; 7(3): 136-144.
26.
Wilkie DJ, Kampbell J, Cutshall S, et al.: Effects of massage on pain intensity, analgesics, and quality of life of patients with cancer pain: A pilot study of a randomized clinical trial conducted within hospice care delivery. Hospice J. 2000; 15(3): 31-53.
27.
Penson J: Complementary therapies: Making a difference in palliative care. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1998; 4(3): 77-81.
28.
Byass R: Auditing complementary therapies in palliative care: The experience of the day-care massage service at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1999; 5(2): 51-60.
29.
Wilkinson S, Aldridge J, Salmon I, et al.: An evaluation of aromatherapy massage in palliative care. Palliat Med. 1999; 13(5): 409-417.
30.
Giasson M, Bouchard L: Effect of therapeutic touch on the well-being of persons with terminal cancer. J Holist Nurs. 1998; 16(3): 383-398.
31.
Goddard MA: The importance of assessing the effectiveness of care: The case of hospices. J Soc Policy. 1993; 22(1): 1-17.
32.
Merriman MP: Documenting the impact of hospice. Hospice J. 1999; 14(3-4): 177-192.
33.
Corner J: Is there a research paradigm for palliative care?Palliat Med. 1996; 10: 201-208.
34.
Wilkinson HJ: Assessment of patient satisfaction and hospice: A review and an investigation. Hospice J. 1986; 2(4): 69-94.
35.
Foster LW: Hospice care: Art and science evaluating primary caregiver perceptions. Hospice J. 1987; 3(1): 31-45.
36.
Lev EL: Dealing with loss: Concerns of patients and families in a hospice setting. Clin Nurse Spec. 1991; 5(2): 87-93.
37.
Archer KC, Boyle DP: Toward a measure of caregiver satisfaction with hospice social services. Hospice J. 1999; 14(2): 1-15.
38.
Addington-Hall J, Walker L, Jones C, et al.: A randomised controlled trial of postal versus interviewer administration of a questionnaire measuring satisfaction with, and use of, services received in the year before death. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1998; 52(12): 802-807.
39.
Kelly B, Edwards P, Synott R, et al.: Predictors of bereavement outcome for family carers of cancer patients. Psychooncology. 1999; 8(3): 237-249.
40.
Marquis R: A qualitative evaluation of a bereavement service: An analysis in Australia. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1996; 13(4): 38-43.
41.
Goldstein J, Alterm CL, Axelrod R: A psychoeducational bereavement-support group for families provided in an outpatient cancer center. J Cancer Edu. 1996; 11: 233-237.
42.
Quigley DG, Schatz MS: Men and women and their responses in spousal bereavement. Hospice J. 1999; 14(2): 65-78.
43.
Macdonald G: Massage as a respite intervention for primary caregivers. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1998; 15(1): 43-47.
44.
Fakhoury W, McCarthy M, Addington-Hall J: Determinants of informal caregivers’ satisfaction with services for dying cancer patients. Soc Sci Med. 1996; 42(5): 721-731.
