Complimentary therapies Angie BuxtonKing The Christie NHS Foundation

Complimentary therapies Angie Buxton-King The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

A Pilot Clinical Service Evaluation Examining the Usage and Satisfaction of Complementary Therapy Patients treated in Cancer Services at University College Hospital, London Presented to the EBMT (UK) NAP Group, Cheltenham 2010 Angie Buxton-King

Overview of Complementary Therapy: ‘Complementary therapies are used as adjuncts to mainstream cancer care. They are supportive measures that control symptoms, enhance wellbeing and contribute to overall patient care. ’ ‘Those which can work alongside and in conjunction with conventional medicine. ’ (British Medical Association)

Project Background: Complementary therapy at University College London NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is extensive and growing: • Fourteen part-time therapists • Diverse therapies, including: • • Reflexology Aromatherapy Reiki Art therapy University College London Hospitals • The department recorded 6, 101 separate therapy episodes in 2008. • Funding for the department comes from a variety of sources, much of it from charitable funds.

Rationale for the Project: Without feedback from service users many of the groups that provide charitable funding lack the data to inform continued commitments to therapies; consequently, The Cancer Services Complementary Therapy Team (CTT), with the assistance of the Nursing Research and Practice Development Team (NRPD), at University College Hospital (UCH) undertook a clinical service improvement project to evaluate University College London Hospitals the usage and reported satisfaction of the various complementary therapies used by patients in both the in-patient and outpatient setting. “Show me the money …. ” “I need to feel you, Jerry …” “… SHOW ME THE MONEY!”

Methodology: • The CTT developed a self-selecting, sample from the Cancer Services patient population who were receiving complementary therapies at UCH. • Patients were asked to evaluate complementary therapies, the delivery of these therapies, and how useful they have found them University College London Hospitals in their care and treatment. • The therapies were evaluated using a self-report questionnaire consisting of eight short sections, using a combination of closed, multiple choice, a free text opinion option, and a ten-point satisfaction scale. • The data were analysed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques.

Results: • 168 questionnaires were distributed, and 157 (93%) completed questionnaires were analysed. • 75 (48%) respondents received therapy as an in-patient. • 52 (32%) as an out patient. • 91 (58%) had previously received complementary therapy at the hospital.

Results: • Reiki was by far the most popular therapy (118, 75%) which is consistent with department data for the preceding 12 months, which noted 3, 792 (62%) episodes of Reiki therapy were given across the hospital. • Asked to rate the likelihood that more therapy would be requested in the future (using a ten point scale), 120 patients (76%) were extremely likely to request more therapy and a further 26 (17%) highly ranked this possibility. • Qualitative analysis was overwhelmingly positive (111, 71%) and provided useful guidance for targeting resources: psychological effects and how they manifested in physical wellbeing were commonly mentioned.

What Respondents said about the service … "Our Son benefits from it a great deal, he handles scans 100% better & really enjoys the sessions - he's only 2 and a half; we as parents know it has helped him and we would recommend it 100%"

What Respondents said about the service … "I was initially very sceptical about Reiki but after Sarah I always feel relaxed (if a bit spacey) and reinvigorated. The sessions have helped me enormously to cope with the stress of being in hospital. . . with cancer

What Respondents said about the service … "Massage has really helped me with my back pain. It has taken most of my stress pain as well. I think complementary therapy really helped me with all my pain"

What Respondents said about the service … "I'm very happy such a service is offered alongside 'standard western' treatments. The range is encouraging, the staff very friendly and approachable. I'm fortunate in that whatever treatment/therapy I receive I usually enjoy a positive outcome, whether it is a short reduction in pain, or the relief of being able to rest more easily for a while"

What Respondents said about the service … "Such a good idea & valuable tool especially when having chemotherapy. Helps keep you feeling positive which is very important in my fight for recovery"

What Respondents said about the service … "The reflexologist was lovely and really put me at my ease. I felt very relaxed after my treatment and not so worried about the chemo as I was left feeling very calm after the treatment"

What Respondents said about the service … " I find complementary therapies offer a relaxing and enjoyable break from the stresses of a day at the hospital. I am amazed and glad at how easy it was to get in contact with the team"

Discussion: • 100% of the respondents who commented upon their experiences were positive about complementary therapy (111, 71%); however, 29% (46) of respondents did not make a comment, of these a small percentage (12, 11%) recorded a lower rating for reuse (≤ 8). • Limitations include: the ‘snap-shot’ nature of this kind of survey, the sample group was self-selecting and practitioner bias was not controlled. Despite this, a picture emerges of great satisfaction with both the availability of complementary therapies and the high standard of delivery at UCH. • There clearly continues to be significant demand for these therapies, and further research is needed to assess the level of agreement with these findings from across the UK and Europe.

The Future: • College of Medicine (Launch 2010) • The New UCLH Cancer Centre (Opening 2012) • The Royal Hospital for Integrated Medicine (re-branding)

Thank you for your kind attention Any questions? angel. beacon@virgin. net simon. clare@uclh. nhs. uk