Holistički pristup zdravstvenoj skrbi: praksa korištenja metoda komplementarne i alternativne medicine kod onkoloških pacijenata i zdravstvenih radnika

Ljerka Armano -  Izvorni znanstveni članak
Andrea Armano
Aleksandar Racz

Holistic Approach to Healthcare: The Practice of Using of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Methods Among Cancer Patients and Healthcare Professionals

Sažetak
Komplementarna i alternativna medicina (KAM), prema Svjetskoj zdravstvenoj organizaciji, je dopuna konvencionalnoj medicini i obuhvaća širok spektar praksi koje nisu dio tradicionalnog medicinskog sustava. Unatoč tome, ove prakse postaju sve značajniji dio zdravstvene skrbi, osobito među pacijentima koji se suočavaju s onkološkom bolesti. Predmet ovog istraživanja bio je ispitivanje prakse korištenja metoda komplementarne i alternativne medicine kao nekonvencionalnih terapijskih pristupa kod onkoloških pacijenata i zdravstvenih radnika. Glavni cilj bio je istražiti raširenost primjene KAM metoda u praksi, te utvrditi prediktorske varijable koje utječu na primjenu prirodne, energetske i duhovne medicine. Istraživanje je provedeno kao presječna studija u razdoblju od studenog 2022. do svibnja 2023., primjenom anketne metode na uzorku od 832 sudionika (411 onkoloških bolesnika, 100 liječnika te 321 medicinskih sestara/tehničara) u Kliničkom bolničkom centru Sestre milosrdnice u Zagrebu. Rezultati su pokazali da onkološki pacijenti iskazuju višu razinu primjene KAM metoda liječenja u usporedbi sa zdravstvenim djelatnicima. Osim toga, žene, stariji ispitanici i vjernici pokazali su veću sklonost prema korištenju KAM metodama. Obrazovna razina i profesionalni status su se pokazali ključnima budući da su liječnici i visokoobrazovani sudionici imali niže razine prihvaćanja nekonvencionalnih terapija. Nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika s obzirom na bračni status, rad u onkološkim odjelima ili područje stanovanja.

Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a supplement to conventional Western medicine. It encompasses a wide range of practices that are not part of a country’s traditional medical system nor fully integrated into the healthcare system. Nevertheless, these practices – often including natural, energetic, and spiritual methods – are becoming increasingly significant in healthcare, especially among patients facing oncological diseases. In this context, nursing, as a fundamental healthcare discipline, is crucial in providing support to patients through a holistic approach that integrates both conventional and complementary methods. This study aimed to investigate the practice of using complementary and alternative medicine methods among oncological patients and healthcare professionals. The main aim was to investigate the prevalence of applying CAM methods in practice and to identify predictor variables that influence the use of natural, energy-based, and spiritual medicine. The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study from November 2022 to May 2023, using a survey method on a sample of 832 participants at the University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy in Zagreb. The sample included 411 oncology patients, 100 physicians, and 321 nurses/technicians. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests) were used to analyze group differences. The results revealed that oncology patients demonstrated a higher level of use of unconventional therapeutic methods compared to healthcare professionals. Additionally, women, older participants, and religious individuals showed a greater inclination toward these methods. Educational attainment and professional status also proved to be significant: physicians and highly educated participants exhibited lower levels of acceptance of unconventional therapies. No statistically significant differences were found concerning marital status, employment in oncology departments, or residential areas. The findings underscore the need for a deeper understanding of attitudes toward unconventional therapeutic approaches and highlight their potential in shaping educational programs and developing healthcare policies to better integrate these methods into clinical practice.