Bridging the Integrative Oncology Knowledge Gap in Cancer Care

Despite growing patient demand for evidence-based complementary therapies like acupuncture, yoga, and mindfulness, a significant disconnect persists in oncology clinics worldwide.

A global survey led by researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and published in Supportive Care in Cancer revealed that more than 80% of cancer care providers do not feel they have the training or experience to confidently recommend integrative oncology.

The study surveyed 282 members of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO). Respondents spanned over a dozen world regions and included physicians, oncology nurses, and other care providers. While patients seek complementary therapies to manage side effects like pain and anxiety, only 15% recall their providers ever raising the subject. Prior research indicates that while most oncologists recommend at least one such therapy, recommendations remain highly inconsistent.

According to Alexandre Chan, PharmD, MPH, professor of clinical pharmacy at UCI and the study's corresponding author, overcoming these barriers requires better clinical connections. "It all comes down to communication," Chan explained in an interview with Oncology Nursing News.

The survey revealed that European providers were over twice as likely as those in North America to cite lack of knowledge as a barrier. Additionally, 80% of respondents identified a lack of insurance as an obstacle, and 88% believed patients cannot afford out-of-pocket complementary treatment costs.

Logistical issues also emerged, with a majority citing a lack of referral pathways and time. This lack of coordination leads to a major communication gap: integrative medicine specialists were over three times more likely than general physicians to worry that complementary therapies might delay standard treatments.

Chan stressed that this concern is largely a misconception about the role of supportive care. "People just don't understand the fact that we're talking about how to integrate these modalities into the conventional care," Chan noted. "We're not going to have these to replace conventional care. They're not going to delay conventional care.”

While large academic institutions have specialized, in-house integrative oncology departments, most community clinics lack these resources. To bridge this gap, Chan highlighted the essential role of advanced practice providers (APPs), oncology nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. In community practices, APPs "need to help to figure out how to communicate with the oncologist on the ground and to identify trustworthy providers who are able to provide these sort of modalities," Chan said.

The study authors argue that this knowledge gap is a highly treatable issue. Health systems can implement practical solutions such as continuing-education requirements, mentorship programs pairing experienced integrative practitioners with newcomers, and searchable databases integrated directly into electronic health records. Establishing these pathways is crucial because, as Chan concluded, "this is a long-term issue that we need to solve together."

Reference

1. University of California, Irvine. Confronting global gaps in integrative cancer care knowledge. UC Irvine News. Published August 3, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026. https://news.uci.edu/2026/08/03/confronting-global-gaps-in-integrative-cancer-care-knowledge/