How complementary therapy can enhance cancer care

Abstract

Cancer treatment can be stressful and challenging. Complementary therapy was integrated into a cancer care service at Spire Leeds Hospital to assist with symptom management and wellbeing for patients. Tangible benefits were evidenced through patient feedback, and qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Staff wellbeing at work was improved through complementary therapy as part of clinical supervision.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• The benefits of using complementary therapies with cancer patients

• How patients and staff responded to complementary therapy provision

• The processes used for gathering qualitative and quantitative evidence of benefits

Key points

Integrating complementary therapy services into an oncology unit improved wellbeing for patients

Most patients said it had helped significantly during cancer treatment

Staff also benefited from complementary therapy as part of their clinical supervision

Fully integrating the complementary therapist into team communications improved the effectiveness of the service

Senior managers responded positively to data evidencing the benefits of the service