Enhancing the quality of life of hospice and palliative patients has fueled an increase in the use of complementary therapies (CT) (1). Numerous definitions exist for complementary therapies, but they are generally defined as health care products and practices that are not considered to be conventional or mainstream such as aboriginal healing techniques and traditional Chinese medicines (2). CTs have been incorporated in hospice settings across the US with 41.8 % offering some sort of CTs to their patients (1). Although the use of such therapies has increased, physicians and other healthcare providers hold minimal knowledge regarding their implementation (1). As a result, a study conducted by Dingley et al. outlines the reported evidence surrounding the implementation and effectiveness of CTs in hospice and palliative settings.
The study conducted by Dingly et al. reviews the current literature that examines the use of CTs in hospice and palliative settings. Researchers conducted an online database search using specific keywords. The search yielded 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies used to compile this review were conducted across the world including in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Taiwan, Spain, Canada, Italy, and Japan.
Complementary therapies were mainly used in two categories: to manage physical symptoms and for psychosocial and spiritual support. Music therapy, biofield therapies, and massage therapy were the most common types of CTs used (1). When used to manage physical symptoms, the use of CTs resulted in an alleviation of physical symptoms such as pain (1).
In the context of psychosocial and spiritual support, therapies were used to trigger conversation around spirituality, instill inner peace, and improve the overall quality of life. Music therapy was successful in facilitating conversations around spirituality and the use of massage and biofield therapies showcased an improvement in the quality of life of participants highlighted by relaxation and improvements in stress and anxiety (1).
Overall, although inconsistent, positive effects of the use of complementary therapies in hospice and palliative patients are reported. However, such outcomes may be largely dictated by the location where these therapies are administered. Complementary therapies have a promising future as they are an alternative to traditional medicine but can yield similar results. With further research, the use of CTs can be implemented for a variety of clinical presentations.
