• Monia Belletti, Luca Mallia, Fabio Lucidi, Simona Reichmann, Chiara Mastroianni, Maria Grazia De Marinis, and Giuseppe Casale.
• Antea Formad, Rome, Italy.
• Support Care Cancer. 2011 Dec 1;19(12):1939-47.

PurposeThe present study is aimed to assess the availability and use of complementary medicine (CM) therapies in Italian palliative care hospices, and the support services available to caregivers and hospice staff.MethodsA national sample of 30 hospices meeting study criteria provided data by means of telephone interviews.ResultsAll hospices offered spiritual assistance and at least one other form of CM, with the most common being massage therapy (n = 24) and relaxation therapy (n = 10). When offered complementary therapies, 65% or more of the patients accepted them. Twenty-nine hospices provided spiritual and psychological support to caregivers during patient stays, but only 12 offered support at home. All hospices offered support services to their staff, both in individual and group formats.ConclusionsDespite limited empirical support, CM has become an important part of palliative care for end-of-life patients in Italy, as in many other countries.

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