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. 2015 Apr;75(4):377–383. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1545850

Development and Validation of a Standardized Questionnaire and Standardized Diary for Use in Integrative Medicine Consultations in Gynecologic Oncology

Entwicklung und Validierung eines standardisierten Fragebogens und eines standardisierten Tagebuchs für die Sprechstunde für Integrative Medizin in der Gynäkologischen Onkologie

C C Hack 1,✉, N B M Hüttner 1, P A Fasching 1, M W Beckmann 1
PMCID: PMC4437756  PMID: 26028695

Abstract

Introduction: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in diagnoses is not standardized and is very heterogeneous. There are few published standards on integrative medicine consultations or CAM-specific validated follow-up questionnaires. The aim of this study was to develop a standard for integrative medicine consultations, a patient questionnaire which could be used as a basis for medical decisions, and a diary to evaluate the course of the integrative therapy. Patients and Methods: Between June 2013 and September 2014 a standardized integrative medicine consultation in gynecologic oncology was developed and implemented at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital. A standard operating procedure for consultations was developed; the necessary instruments were developed and validated. Results: Overall patient assessment of the integrative medicine questionnaire and the integrative medicine diary with regard to the time required for completion, comprehensibility, complexity and functionality was positive. Patients evaluated the standardized overall concept of the integrative medicine consultation and its instruments as suitable. Conclusion: Our team is one of the first study groups to develop, validate and publish a standard procedure for integrative medicine consultations. In future, the standard operating procedure for integrative medicine procedures of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital could be introduced in other hospitals and certified breast cancer centers and gynecologic cancer centers. This would offer patients maximum security and a standardized quality of care in integrative medicine.

Key words: complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), integrative medicine, naturopathic treatment, questionnaire, diary

Introduction

Use of complementary therapies as part of the concept of integrative medicine has significantly increased in recent years 1, 2. Integrative medicine is a collective term used to describe a combination of scientific, evidence-based medicine (conventional mainstream medicine) and complementary, experience-based medicine (expertise; “complementary medicine”). This approach integrates complementary methods which aim to contribute to the holistic care of patients with currently practiced medical treatment. Such complementary methods are considered to offer additional and supplementary assistance within the current medical system; they are not considered replacements for conventional medicine. “Complementary medicine” and “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) are often used interchangeably. According to the definition, CAM includes all complementary and alternative methods of treatment, ranging from controversial and untested products and therapies to effective supportive measures 3.

Integrative medicine is particularly popular in oncology 4, 5, 6. Around 40 % of cancer patients in Germany use CAM during or after cancer treatment 7. Since the 1970s, the percentages of cancer patients in western industrialized nations using CAM has continually risen, from 25 to 49 % 7, 8, 9, 10. In the USA, Australia and Europe between 38 and 60 % of all cancer patients use CAM during the course of disease for therapeutic support 1, 11, 12. The percentage is even higher among breast cancer patients where, depending on the cancer stage, it can be as high as 90 % 2, 13, 14. Patients with advanced or metastatic cancer use CAM more frequently than patients with early-stage disease 15, 16. A German study which aimed to identify predictive factors for the use of CAM in patients with various cancer entities (including breast cancer, gynecologic genital cancer) undergoing radiotherapy found that 39 % of cancer patients with stage I disease and 54 % with stage II disease used CAM over the course of disease. In stages III and IV the figure was 70 % of all cancer patients 17. Studies confirm that integrative medicine can help to reduce the side-effects of modern cancer therapies or of the cancer itself 18, 19, 20 and can improve patientsʼ quality of life 21, 22, 23. Common methods in integrative medicine include homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, in particular mistletoe therapy, classic naturopathic treatment, phytotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including acupuncture, sports, nutritional approaches, vitamin products, mineral nutrients, dietary supplements and relaxation therapies 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27.

The use of integrative medicine is not standardized and is very heterogeneous. The reason for this is that globally there are no general guidelines or standards for CAM. There are only websites, databases and medical literature which address individual aspects of integrative medicine and offer CAM-related information of varying quality 28, 29, 30.

There are almost no published standards outlining how to carry out an integrative medicine consultation or on the use of validated CAM questionnaires to provide basic information for the consultation or on general therapeutic recommendations on CAM; in particular, there are no standards for interdisciplinary integrative medicine conferences in which therapeutic decisions are taken 7, 31, 32, 33. Treatment plans are decided on interdisciplinary conferences and these conferences form the basis for the quality of care offered to oncology patients in certified cancer centers 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. There are no validated CAM questionnaires in the literature which could be used as a basis for CAM therapy decisions taken in a patient consultation in gynecologic oncology. Drug safety, drug interactions, contraindications, the wishes and goals of the patient are often not adequately taken into account. A detailed patient history using a general questionnaire to determine the patientʼs medical history and a CAM-specific questionnaire to obtain such information are therefore indispensable.

The aim was to develop and validate a standardized patient questionnaire which would serve as the basis for therapeutic decisions on integrative medicine in gynecologic oncology, a standardized diary to assess the course of treatment using integrative therapy, and a standardized procedure for integrative medicine consultations together with the required instruments.

Patients and Methods

Between June 2013 and September 2014 a standardized procedure for integrative medicine consultations in gynecologic oncology, i.e. for use by certified breast centers and gynecologic cancer centers, was developed at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital. A “standard operating procedure” (SOP) was developed for the consultation and the required instruments were created and validated.

SOP for integrative medicine consultations

The procedure for the integrative medicine consultation is organized into four consecutive stages (Fig. 1). The first stage consists of initial presentation by the patient in person along with detailed collection of data about the patientʼs general, oncologic and – if present – CAM-specific medical history, followed by a compilation of all findings relevant for diagnosis and for the decision regarding treatment. A patient questionnaire (IMed questionnaire) was developed and validated to obtain basic information in a standardized form.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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 Standard operating procedure (SOP) for integrative medicine consultations.

After the data and documents have been collected and ordered, the patient presents a second time, this time to an interdisciplinary integrative medicine conference, and an individual therapy plan is developed for the patient.

The goal is to offer patients maximum safety and efficacy for both therapeutic approaches – oncologic therapy and integrative medicine – by checking drug interactions and the safety of prescribed medicines, thereby avoiding side-effects, toxicities or reductions in the efficacy of the therapies. For quality assurance purposes, the patient is required to present to medical practitioners at two separate appointments. An individual all-round treatment plan is developed based on disease, standard therapy required, pre-existing complaints and the results of the investigation into the safety of prescribed medicines in a specific database, which is tailored to the patientʼs needs and wishes.

The patient is requested to present herself a second time and the interdisciplinary patient plan is explained to her. To assess the course of the integrative therapies, patients are given a standardized and validated diary (IMed diary) for a period of one year. The patient must present again for follow-up 3–6 months later.

Integrative medicine patient questionnaire and diary

An IMed questionnaire consisting of 43 questions was developed as the basis for the standard operating procedure for integrative medicine consultations (see appendix 1). This questionnaire and the patientʼs general medical and oncological history provide information which serves as the basis for the specific individual therapy recommendations offered in addition to standard cancer therapies.

The IMed questionnaire includes questions covering the following areas:

  1. General information (including personal data, demographic data, disease, previous and current treatments, co-medication, social environment),

  2. Lifestyle (including sports, diet),

  3. Complementary and alternative therapies,

  4. Physical and mental state (including complaints, quality of life), and

  5. Patientʼs goals (including wishes, expectations).

An integrative medicine diary (IMed diary) was developed to assess the course of integrative therapy methods and patient compliance. (The IMed diary has not been included as it is too extensive. The main points are described below.) Patients were requested to enter general information (including personal information, course of disease, co-medication), their physical and psychological condition, lifestyle (including sports, diet), the use of integrative therapy methods and health-economic aspects in the IMed diary at the start of integrative therapy (month 0) and at the time points 3 (month 3), 6 (month 6), 9 (month 9) and 12 (month 12) (Table 1). Parts of the diary of the PreFace study (Evaluation of Predictive Factors regarding the Effectivity of Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy) were used as the basis when we developed our patient diary 43. The PreFace study is a phase IV study where postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients are treated with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole 44.

Table 1 Overview of questions in the IMed diary.

Month Medical history (gen. information, disease, treatment, medication) Complaints, physical and psychological condition Integrative medicine/lifestyle Health economics, treatment costs Standard questionnaires (FACT-G, IPAQ, HADS, NCCNʼs Distress Thermometer) Expectations/wishes
0 X X X X X X
3 X X X
6 X X X X
9 X X X
12 X X X X X
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Moreover the EQ-5D health questionnaire (EuroQol – 5Dimensions), the IPAQ questionnaire measuring physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), the FACT-G questionnaire (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General), the HADS questionnaire (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Networkʼs (NCCN) Distress Thermometer already included standardized and previously validated elements 45, 46, 47, 48, 49. Permissions to use licensed questionnaires and instruments in consultations and in our prospective study were sought and obtained. The questions were repeated at every follow-up at defined time points.

Prior to their first use by patients, the IMed questionnaire and the IMed diary were evaluated in terms of their contents and structure by three different independent medical experts and were revised in accordance with their recommendations.

Data analysis and statistics

Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Statistical evaluation consisted of descriptive analysis. Total amounts, mean values and percentages were calculated. Data from different patient subgroups were collected and compared. Missing data were not included in the evaluation.

Results

Validation in terms of comprehensibility and potential application was done in three different patient populations.

First validation of the IMed questionnaire

For the first validation, the IMed patient questionnaire was tested between December 2013 and February 2014 in a randomly selected patient population consisting of 34 oncological patients attending the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital, and evaluated using a specially developed assessment sheet (n = 34). The patients participating in the validation study were 26 breast cancer patients and 8 genital cancer patients. The specially developed assessment sheet consisted of 5 questions on the items “time required to complete the questionnaire”, “comprehensibility”, “complexity”, “length”, “whether the patient liked the questionnaire” and “suggestions for improvement” (see IMed diary [Table 1]).

The majority of questioned patients stated that the questions were comprehensible (67 %) and appropriate in terms of complexity (72 %). 25 % of patients considered the IMed questionnaire to be too long, and 5 % of patients had suggestions for improvement (Table 2). Average time taken to complete the IMed questionnaire was 28 minutes. 88 % of patients required ≤ 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire (Table 3). A subgroup analysis of the patient population showed no differences between groups.

Table 2 Results of the first validation of the IMed questionnaire (N/A = Not available, i.e. this answer option was not available) (total n = 34).

Questions Totaln (%) Yesn (%) Non (%) To some extentn (%) Donʼt known (%)
Were the questions comprehensible? 33 (100) 22 (67) 0 (0) 11 (33) 0 (0)
Were the questions too complicated? 32 (100) 0 (0) 23 (72) 9 (28) 0 (0)
Was the questionnaire too long? 31 (100) 10 (32) 20 (65) N/A 1 (3)
Did you like the questionnaire? 27 (100) 16 (59) 1 (4) 10 (37) 0 (0)
Do you have suggestions for improvement? 28 (100) 5 (18) 23 (82) N/A 0 (0)
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Table 3 Time required to complete the IMed questionnaire (n = 34; n = 25) or the IMed diary (n = 25).

Time required for completion 1st validation (IMed questionnaire) 2nd validation (revised IMed questionnaire) 2nd validation (IMed diary)
Total n (%) 34 (100) 25 (100) 25 (100)
≤ 30 min, n (%) 30 (88) 17 (68) 18 (72)
> 30 min, n (%) 4 (12) 8 (32) 7 (28)
Minimum (min) 10 10 8
Maximum (min) 60 60 80
Mean (min) 28 29 30
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Using the results of the first validation, the IMed questionnaire was modified with a view to improving comprehension and functionality. Modifications included shortening the length of the questionnaire, including the trade names of cancer drugs in addition to their active ingredients, reducing the number of “further comments” boxes, and improving the comprehensibility of questions assessed as too complex.

Second validation of the revised IMed questionnaire and first validation of the IMed diary

In the period from April to June 2014, 25 oncology patients attending the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Clinic agreed to complete the revised IMed questionnaire and the first chapter of the IMed diary (month 0 [Table 1]) and to hand in an assessment sheet as was done for the first validation of the IMed questionnaire (n = 25). This time, the patient population consisted of 17 breast cancer patients and 8 patients with genital cancer. A second validation of the IMed questionnaire was done.

After revision of any complex and difficult to understand questions, 95 % of patients considered the IMed questionnaire to be suitable in terms of its comprehensibility (96 %), complexity (96 %) and length (92 %) (Table 4). The question on individual integrative medicine methods (question 39 of the IMed questionnaire) was excluded from the analysis as there had been problems of comprehension due to the fact that many of the therapies were not known to patients. This had been highlighted in the comments given by the patients on the assessment sheet. Only 4 % of patients offered suggestions for improvement.

Table 4 Results of the 2nd validation of the revised IMed questionnaire (total n = 25) and 1st validation of the IMed diary (total n = 25) (N/A = not available, i.e. this answer option was not available).

Questions Totaln (%) Yesn (%) Non (%) To some extentn (%) Donʼt known (%)
IMed questionnaire
Were the questions comprehensible? 25 (100) 24 (96) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0)
Were the questions too complicated? 25 (100) 0 (0) 24 (96) 1 (4) 0 (0)
Was the questionnaire too long? 25 (100) 2 (8) 23 (92) N/A 0 (0)
Did you like the questionnaire? 25 (100) 17 (72) 0 (0) 4 (16) 3 (12)
Do you have suggestions for improvement? 25 (100) 1 (4) 14 (56) N/A 10 (40)
IMed diary
Were the questions comprehensible? 25 (100) 24 (96) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0)
Were the questions too complicated? 25 (100) 0 (0) 23 (92) 2 (8) 0 (0)
Was the questionnaire too long? 25 (100) 2 (8) 23 (92) N/A 0 (0)
Did you like the questionnaire? 25 (100) 18 (72) 0 (0) 4 (16) 3 (12)
Do you have suggestions for improvement? 25 (100) 1 (4) 14 (56) N/A 10 (40)
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On average, 93 % of patients were satisfied with the IMed diary, with 96 % attesting that it was easy to understand, 92 % stating that it was not too complex, 92 % stating that it was not too long, and 4 % making suggestions for improvement (Table 4). The average time taken to complete the revised IMed questionnaire was 29 minutes, and 30 minutes were taken to complete the IMed diary (Table 3).

Patients older than 65 years of age required more time than younger patients.

Differences in patient age, disease status and type of treatment did not result in any differences with regard to assessment of comprehensibility, complexity and length of the IMed questionnaire.

Comparisons of individual subgroups of the patient population showed no significant differences, allowing both groups to be assessed together.

Validation of the integrative medicine consultation

In June 2014 a standardized integrative medicine consultation was launched at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Erlangen University Hospital. Since then, the consultation model has been investigated in a prospective cohort study consisting of 25 patients with the aim of validating the consultation procedure and evaluating the use of the IMed questionnaire (n = 25). In the period from June 6 to September 9, 2014, patients made an appointment on their own initiative to attend an integrative medicine consultation and receive individualized advice on CAM treatment. 18 of these patients had breast cancer and 5 patients had genital cancer. Patient satisfaction was evaluated in a telephone interview 4–6 weeks after the second appointment using a specially developed satisfaction assessment sheet. Patients were asked to evaluate the integrative medicine consultation, the interdisciplinary integrative medicine conference, the overall concept of the integrative medicine consultation, the therapy recommendations and the information material used (brochures, IMed questionnaire, letter, information, etc.).

Analysis showed that the integrative medicine consultation received excellent ratings with regard to patient satisfaction (Table 5). 97 % of patients assessed the consultation procedure, the overall concept, the questionnaire, the treatment plan developed for them, the letter, the information material and the overall care offered in the integrative medicine consultation as very positive (Table 5). 92 % of patients considered the fact that an interdisciplinary integrative medicine conference was held after the first consultation, requiring them to attend two appointments, as a good thing. 96 % of patients stated that they would recommend the integrative medicine consultation to other affected patients. The patients particularly welcomed the fact that they were given ample time and that the focus was on them as people and not on the cancer.

Table 5 Analysis of patient satisfaction with the integrative medicine consultation (n = 25).

Assessment Overalln (%) Outstandingn (%) Very goodn (%) Goodn (%) Indifferentn (%) Poorn (%) Very poorn (%)
Procedure of the integrative medicine consultation 25 (100) 11 (44) 11 (44) 2 (8) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0)
IMed questionnaire 25 (100) 7 (28) 7 (28) 10 (40) 1 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Interdisciplinary integrative medicine conference 25 (100) 18 (72) 4 (16) 3 (12) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Overall concept 25 (100) 11 (44) 9 (36) 4 (16) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0)
2 appointments 25 (100) 10 (40) 7 (28) 6 (24) 1 (4) 1 (4) 0 (0)
Development of the treatment plan 25 (100) 14 (56) 10 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (4)
Letter, information material, information on applications 25 (100) 10 (40) 10 (40) 4 (16) 0 (0) 1 (4) 0 (0)
Overall treatment and care 25 (100) 13 (52) 11 (44) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (4)
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Completeness and plausibility of data

Completeness of data in the assessment sheets for the IMed questionnaire and the IMed diary and in the patient satisfaction sheets assessing the integrative medicine consultation was calculated as between 91–100 % for the individual validations. A review of completed IMed questionnaires and IMed diaries showed that data completeness was 85–100 %. A plausibility check was carried out by one of the doctors to verify the quality of the data. The data were more than 95 % plausible.

Discussion

The same standards should be set for the use of integrative medicine as for oncological therapies in evidence-based medicine. However, it is difficult to achieve this goal, as increases of knowledge in complementary medicine are usually based on experience, expertise and other forms of knowledge acquisition in contrast to scientific evidence-based medicine, and the two methods are based on different basic concepts 3. Evidence-based medicine provides evidence for the efficacy and safety of an approach, which is often lacking for complementary medicine approaches. Good prospective randomized studies on integrative therapeutic methods are rare 50.

There are no standards, norms or methods in integrative medicine generally accepted as ‘correct’ (e.g. guidelines, medical treatment recommendations, directives). Achieving the same level for individual recommendations on integrative medicine given to a patient as those available for evidence-based standard therapies in senology or gynecologic oncology is therefore problematic 3.

The aim of this study was to offer patients a greater degree of safety and better quality of care in integrative medicine through standardization, the structuring of procedures, and the introduction of criteria which can be used as part of quality assurance in oncology 51 and to ascribe more value and confer a greater acceptance of integrative medicine.

There are numerous institutions for complementary and alternative therapies all over the world: centers for integrative medicine, clinics for complementary medicine or naturopathic treatment, institutes for holistic therapy, CAM consultations, naturopathy practices, etc. However, there is no standard in the literature outlining the procedure for integrative medicine consultations or the instruments required for such consultations. There are many questionnaires out there, but they are mostly survey questionnaires which aim to assess the incidence, reasons for, methods and general use of CAM by patients or to evaluate existing structures and the acceptance and attitude towards CAM of physicians and medical practitioners 21, 52. Prior to our study there was no published questionnaire which could be used as a standard instrument to record the current status in integrative medicine consultations and serve as a decision-making tool for CAM therapies. A PubMed search for CAM-specific patient diaries also returned no search results.

Patient assessment of our questionnaire on integrative medicine (IMed questionnaire) and the integrative medicine diary (IMed diary) with regard to the time required for completion and the comprehensibility, complexity and functionality of the questionnaire and the diary was positive. The standardized overall concept of the integrative medicine consultation and the instruments required for the consultation were considered suitable by the patients.

To further assess the standardized IMed questionnaire, the standardized IMed diary and the SOP for integrative medicine consultations, a prospective, non-interventional, observational study on integrative medicine is planned which aims to investigate the impact of integrative medicine on patient quality of life and on reducing side-effects in female cancer patients.

Our team is one of the first study groups to develop, validate and publish a standard for an IMed questionnaire, an IMed diary and an integrative medicine consultation. In future, the procedure used in integrative medicine consultations in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Erlangen University Hospital could be introduced in other hospitals and certified breast cancer and gynecologic cancer centers as a “standard operating procedure” (SOP). This would offer patients maximum safety and a standardized quality of care in integrative medicine.

Acknowledgement

Our thanks go to everyone involved in the development of the integrative medicine consultation.

Footnotes

Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest with regard to any of the topics presented in this article.

German supporting information and the IMed questionnaire in German

10-1055-s-0035-1545850-sup_de_gf909.pdf (133.4KB, pdf)

German supporting information for this article

10-1055-s-0035-1545850-sup_gf909.pdf (242.5KB, pdf)

Supporting Information (IMed questionnaire in German)

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