Cancer patients' expectations of the role of family physicians in communication about complementary therapies.

Objective: To explore cancer patients' experiences with and expectations of the role of family physicians in communication about complementary therapies.

Design: Focus group interviews.

Setting: British Columbia Cancer Agency and the University of Calgary.

Participants: Sample of 14 cancer patients using complementary therapies comprising 3 focus groups (2 in BC and 1 in Alberta).

Results: The role of family physicians in discussing complementary therapies varied from being extraneous to patients' decision making to being a partner in making decisions about cancer treatments. Patients expected their physicians to be supportive, caring, kind and to show an interest in them. They also expected their physicians to be accepting and nonjudgmental regarding complementary therapy use and to reinforce a sense of hope. Most patients did not expect their doctors to have extensive knowledge about these therapies. All patients strongly felt the need to seek information themselves. In addition, they felt that believing in the type of therapies they were using was very important.

Conclusion: Family physicians can play an important role in exploring and discussing complementary therapies with their patients. It is important that they are made aware of their patients' needs in this area.