The attitudes of physicians and oncologists towards unconventional cancer therapies (UCT)

Abstract 

Physicians represent the main providers of unconventional cancer therapies (UCT) in Germany. However, little is known about providers’ characteristics, as well as their attitudes towards UCT. 833 questionnaires on this topic answered by general practitioners and hospital physicians were analysed. Providers differed significantly from non-providers with respect to gender (male>female, i.e. more male providers), age (older>younger), amount of subjective knowledge about UCT, place of work (office>hospital>university clinic), greater wish for coverage of UCT costs, the belief in future positive trends concerning UCT, the recognition of patients’ demand for UCT, the number of patients seen per month and medical specialty (GPs>oncologists and radiation oncologists). UCT were not considered to be highly effective, but estimations varied considerably. Further investigations in this area, better education about UCT, training in coping strategies with the fate of cancer patients, and reasonable complementary treatments appear to be of the utmost importance.

Keywords:  Unconventional cancer therapy, Physicians’ attitudes