The Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes (CAMEO) program: a foundation for patient and health professional education and decision support programs

Abstract

Objective: This paper describes the background, design and evaluation of a theory-informed education and decision support program for cancer patients considering complementary medicine (CM).

Methods: The program was informed by the Shared Decision Making theory, the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and the Supportive Care Framework. Previous empirical evidence and baseline research were used to identify patients' and health professionals' (HPs) information and decision support needs related to CM.

Results: To address the continuum of CM needs, a variety of education and decision support interventions were developed, including basic CM information and resources for patients and HPs, a group education program and one-on-one decision support coaching for patients, and an on-line education module for HPs. Evaluation of the program and individual interventions is underway.

Conclusions: This education and decision support program addresses a significant gap in care and offers an evidence-informed framework in which to translate CM evidence to conventional care settings and promote communication about CM.

Practice implications: Evidence-informed CM education and decision support interventions are needed to shift the culture around CM within conventional care settings and promote open communication that will lead to CM therapies being safely integrated into care.