Search

Parents of children with cancer face bio-psycho-social-spiritual concerns which can significantly reduce quality of life (QoL). We examined the impact of an integrative oncology (IO) intervention on QoL-related concerns among parents of children in a pediatric hematology-oncology department. The study was prospective, controlled, nonrandomized and patient-preferenced. Parents of children recently (≤6 weeks) diagnosed with cancer were assessed using the measure yourself concerns and wellbeing (MYCaW), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Parents in both groups were reassessed after three weeks. An IO consultation was provided, with training in daily relaxation-breathing and manual treatments, and guidance on herbal medicine. Of 68 parents consenting to participate, 37 (54%) underwent the intervention with 31 serving as controls. Multivariate analysis found the IO intervention group to contain more Hebrew-speakers (OR=5.96, 95% CI=1.3-27.3, P =0.022); females (OR=5.23, 95% CI=1.1-24.8, P =0.038); and report pain (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.0-1.4, P =0.045) and impaired appetite on ESAS (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.01-1.48, P =0.034) when compared to controls. Only the intervention group showed improved baseline-to-3-week scores for physical functioning (P <0.001), cognitive functioning (0=0.018) and fatigue on EORTC (P <0.001); and for ESAS appetite (P <0.001) and anxiety (P =0.02). ESAS sleep increased only in controls (P =0.029). IO interventions in pediatric hematology-oncology addressing QoL-related concerns among parents are feasible, potentially increasing predominantly physical symptoms and functioning. Further research is needed to confirm these "real-world" clinical outcomes, and the role of IO in "Caring for the Caregiver". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study objective: There is a need to explore how patient‐tailored integrative oncology (IO) programs reduce emotional distress. This study set out to bridge the IO research gap between non‐specific, quality of life‐related and specific emotional‐related concerns in chemotherapy‐treated patients. Methods: This pragmatic, prospective and preference‐controlled study examined patients attending an integrative‐physician consultation and weekly IO treatments during adjuvant/neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy for localized cancer. Patients choosing to attend ≥4 IO sessions (highly adherent to integrative care, AIC) were compared to low AIC patients using the ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) anxiety, depression and sleep; and the EORTC QLQ‐C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) emotional functioning scale, at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Emotional distress was assessed by ESAS anxiety and depression, considered as the primary study outcomes. Results: Of 439 participants, 260 (59%) were high‐AIC and 179 low‐AIC, both with similar baseline demographic and cancer‐related characteristics. At 6 weeks, high‐AIC patients reported greater improvement on ESAS sleep (p = 0.044); within‐group improvement on ESAS anxiety and; and EORTC emotional functioning. Compared with low‐AIC, high‐AIC patients showed greater improvement on ESAS depression (p = 0.022) and sleep (p = 0.015) in those with high baseline ESAS anxiety scores (≥7); and ESAS anxiety (p = 0.049) for patients moderately anxious (4–6) at baseline. Conclusions: High‐AIC was associated with significantly reduced anxiety, depression and sleep severity at 6 weeks, especially those with high‐to‐moderate baseline anxiety levels. These findings reduce the research gap, suggesting specific emotional‐related effects of IO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: To assess the impact of a personalized integrative medicine (IM) intervention on healthcare providers (HCPs) expressing war-related emotional/spiritual and physical concerns., Methods: Physicians, nurses, para-medical and other HCPs from 5 hospital departments in northern Israel underwent IM treatments provided by IM-trained practitioners working in integrative oncology (IO) care settings. The two main HCP-reported concerns were scored (from 0 to 6) before and following the intervention using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing questionnaire. Post-intervention narratives were examined for emotional/spiritual keywords (ESKs)., Results: Of 190 participating HCPs, 121 (63.7%) expressed ESKs in post-treatment narratives (ESK group), with 69 not expressing ESKs (nESK group). Both groups had similar demographic and professional backgrounds, and reported improved measure yourself concerns and well-being (MYCAW) QoL-related concerns immediately post-intervention. However, between-group analysis found significantly greater improvement in the ESK group for the first (p < 0.001) and second (p = 0.01) MYCAW concerns, as well as emotional/spiritual concerns (p < 0.001). Pain-related concerns improved similarly in both groups, with improved scores continuing to 24-h post-treatment., Conclusions: HCPs with war-related emotional/spiritual and physical QoL-related concerns showed significant improvement following the IM intervention. This was more significant among those reporting ESKs for their two major and emotional/spiritual concerns, with pain scores improving similarly in both groups. Future research needs to explore specific and non-specific effects of IM intervention provided by IO practitioners working outside their "comfort zone", fostering collaboration between IM and mental health providers to address HCP wellbeing and resilience during a time of national crisis., (© 2024 The Author(s). Psycho‐Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)