The WHO Strategy 2025–2034 builds on the WHO's ongoing efforts since 2014 to integrate traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) into national health systems. This strategy aims to promote the safe and effective use of T&CM alongside conventional care, enhancing accessibility and addressing diverse health needs through people-centered approaches. Traditional medicine, including Chinese, Ayurvedic, homeopathy, and naturopathy, is rooted in cultural beliefs and practices. Complementary medicine includes nutritional therapies such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, along with psychological and physical therapies like art and music therapy, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic care, Tai Qi and Qi Gong. Integrative medicine combines conventional and complementary approaches to manage both physical and mental health.
Integrative oncology has developed evidence-based frameworks for safely incorporating complementary therapies and mind-body practices into conventional cancer and bone marrow transplantation care (PMID: 36260826; PMID: 38820485). Meanwhile, solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients often face persistent unmet needs, including chronic pain, fatigue, neuropsychiatric issues, medication burdens, and lifestyle-related comorbidities, all of which compromise their quality of life. While T&CM may offer significant benefits in supporting overall health in the transplant setting, the use of herbs requires special care, as many can interact with immunosuppressive drugs in ways that could affect patient outcomes. This survey aims to explore how the transplant community addresses these challenges, specifically by examining the use of complementary medicine alongside conventional treatments to support the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of transplant recipients. By assessing current knowledge, attitudes, and practices, the survey will help identify barriers to integrating a holistic, evidence-based approach to care and explore interest in evidence-based guidelines or training focused on the safe use of complementary medicine in transplant patients.
Your participation is anonymous and voluntary. The insights gathered will help improve patient-centered transplant care and guide the development of evidence-based guidelines for the safe use of complementary medicine in transplant recipients.
