Availability of Integrative Medicine Therapies at National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Community Hospitals
Krupali Desai, Kevin T. Liou, Kacy Liang, Christina Seluzicki, Jun J. Mao
Abstract
Introduction: The authors compared the availability of integrative medicine therapies in National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and community hospitals. Methods: The authors reviewed 51 Comprehensive Cancer Center and 100 community hospital websites and collected race and median household income data for community hospital populations. Results: Availability of acupuncture (56% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.01), meditation (63% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.02), and music therapy (55% vs. 74.5%, p = 0.02) was significantly lower at community hospitals compared with Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Integrative medicine availability was also significantly lower in community hospitals serving lower-income populations. Conclusion: Equitable access to evidence-based integrative medicine in community hospitals is needed.