Table 2 Characteristics of the participants (n = 466)^b

Gender

< 0.001^*

 Male

108

27.5

69

51.5

3

12.5

36

19.3

 Female

285

72.5

65

48.5

48

100

21

87.5

151

80.7

 Missing

73

8

21

8

36

Age. years

< 0.001^**

 Mean age

373

48.7

127

45.4

45

51.2

24

52.2

177

50.1

 Missing

93

15

24

8

46

Education

< 0.001^

 Compulsory

2

0.5

2

1.1

 Middle level

33

8.4

33

17.6

 University up to 4 years

112

28.4

23

46.9

11

44

78

41.7

 University more than 4 years/PhD

248

62.8

134

100

26

53.1

14

56

74

39.6

 Missing

71

8

20

7

36

 Oncology doctor

27

5.8

27

100

 Family physician

118

25.3

116

99.1

2 ^a

1.8

 Oncology nurse

89

19.1

69

77.5

20

22.5

 Acupuncturist

150

32.2

25

16.7

125

83.3

 Massage therapist

82

17.6

6

7.3

76

92.7

 Reflexologist/zonetherapist

35

7.5

1

2.9

34

97.1

Clinical practice

< 0.001^

 Full time health provider

287

72.1

121

89.6

38

77.6

18

72

110

58.2

 Part time health provider

92

23.1

11

8.1

10

20.4

5

20

66

34.9

 Other (students or retired persons)

19

4.8

3

2.2

1

2

2

8

13

6.9

 Missing

68

7

20

7

34

Patient visits per week

< 0.001^*

 1-19 patients

131

33.8

10

7.6

27

57.4

4

16

90

48.6

 20–39 patients

121

31.2

28

21.4

17

36.2

5

20

71

38.4

 40 or more patients

136

35.1

93

71

3

6.4

16

64

24

13

 Missing

78

11

22

7

38

< 0.001^

 1–19 cancer patients

361

92.1

125

92.6

31

64.6

23

92

182

98.9

 20 and more patients

31

7.9

10

7.4

17

35.4

2

8

2

1.1

 Missing

74

7

21

7

39

Location

0.005^*

 Rural area

118

29.7

56

41.5

7

14.6

3

12

52

27.5

 Small city. Village (up to 50.000 inhabitants)

153

38.5

44

32.6

23

47.9

12

48

74

39.2

 Large city (> 50.000 inhabitants)

126

31.7

35

25.9

18

37.5

10

40

63

33.3

 Missing

69

7

21

7

34