• Ariela Popper-Giveon, Elad Schiff, David Hatem, Noah Samuels, and Eran Ben-Arye.
• The Integrative Oncology Program, Haifa and Western Galilee Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel; David Yellin Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel.
• Explore (NY). 2014 Nov 1;10(6):364-71.

BackgroundThe integration of complementary medicine is gradually becoming an accepted part of standard care for patients with cancer. In our integrative oncology program, we have encountered difficulties in recruiting Arab patients. In order to understand the special needs of this population, we conducted interviews among Arab practitioners of complementary and traditional medicine (CTM). The characteristics of practitioners and their views regarding the therapeutic process were examined.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were administered to 27 Arab practitioners of CTM whose clientele was comprised primarily of Arab cancer patients. Conventional content analysis of the transcribed interviews and field notes was performed in order to identify key themes.ResultThree groups of CTM practice were identified: Folk-herbal medicine (n = 9), complementary medicine (CM; n = 14), and religious healing (n = 4). Seven factors were identified in the practitioner accounts: the duration and scheduling of treatment sessions, the language of communication, the presence of family members, the appearance of the practitioner, the definition of treatment goals, the discussion of behavioral and lifestyle changes, and finally, the use of tangible elements in treatment.ConclusionsThe study of Arab CTM practitioner recommendations may help facilitate a culture-sensitive encounter with Arab patients with cancer. This approach may also have implications for other ethno-culturally unique populations.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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