Eran Ben-Arye1,2, Hadeel Dahly3, Yael Keshet4, Jamal Dagash5,6, Noah Samuels7. 1. Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical center, Clalit Health Services, 35 Rothschild St., Haifa and Western Galilee District, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il. 3. Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. 4. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Western Galilee Academic College, Galilee, Israel. 5. Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical center, Clalit Health Services, 35 Rothschild St., Haifa and Western Galilee District, Haifa, Israel. 6. Palliative Care-Home Care Hospice, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Haifa, Israel. 7. Tal Center for Integrative Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) program on quality of life (QoL)-related concerns among patients scheduled for chemotherapy for breast and gynecologic cancer. METHODS: Chemotherapy-naïve patients were referred by their oncology healthcare professional to an integrative oncology program, where CIM is provided as part of palliative/supportive care. CIM treatments were tailored to patients' preferences and leading concerns, and for most included acupuncture and mind-body-spirit modalities, which were usually co-administered in the week preceding the first chemotherapy cycle. Patients attending the program were considered part of the treatment group; those who chose to receive only standard supportive care as controls. Assessment of quantitative outcomes was conducted during the week before chemotherapy; at 24 h before and after the treatment; and at 1 week post treatment. For this purpose, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being questionnaire (MYCAW) were used. Qualitative assessment was based on short narratives at the end of the follow-up MYCAW questionnaire, which were analyzed with ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients referred, 31 (56%) underwent CIM treatments, with 24 controls. Both groups had similar baseline demographic and cancer-related characteristics. QOL-related outcomes were significantly less impaired following CIM treatments for ESAS fatigue scores (P = 0.013), depression (P = 0.005), and feeling of well-being (P = 0.027); and MYCAW scores for well-being (P = 0.005) and emotional distress (P = 0.02). Qualitative analysis detected both specific and non-specific effects of the CIM treatment regimen, most describing a reduction in pre-chemotherapy anxiety. CONCLUSION: A patient-tailored CIM program, initiated within a week of the first chemotherapy cycle, may help reduce the severity of fatigue, depression, and impaired well-being among patients with breast and gynecological cancers.
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) program on quality of life (QoL)-related concerns among patients scheduled for chemotherapy for breast and gynecologic cancer. METHODS: Chemotherapy-naïve patients were referred by their oncology healthcare professional to an integrative oncology program, where CIM is provided as part of palliative/supportive care. CIM treatments were tailored to patients' preferences and leading concerns, and for most included acupuncture and mind-body-spirit modalities, which were usually co-administered in the week preceding the first chemotherapy cycle. Patients attending the program were considered part of the treatment group; those who chose to receive only standard supportive care as controls. Assessment of quantitative outcomes was conducted during the week before chemotherapy; at 24 h before and after the treatment; and at 1 week post treatment. For this purpose, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being questionnaire (MYCAW) were used. Qualitative assessment was based on short narratives at the end of the follow-up MYCAW questionnaire, which were analyzed with ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients referred, 31 (56%) underwent CIM treatments, with 24 controls. Both groups had similar baseline demographic and cancer-related characteristics. QOL-related outcomes were significantly less impaired following CIM treatments for ESAS fatigue scores (P = 0.013), depression (P = 0.005), and feeling of well-being (P = 0.027); and MYCAW scores for well-being (P = 0.005) and emotional distress (P = 0.02). Qualitative analysis detected both specific and non-specific effects of the CIM treatment regimen, most describing a reduction in pre-chemotherapy anxiety. CONCLUSION: A patient-tailored CIM program, initiated within a week of the first chemotherapy cycle, may help reduce the severity of fatigue, depression, and impaired well-being among patients with breast and gynecological cancers.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anxiety; Chemotherapy; Complementary medicine; Integrative medicine; Quality of life; Supportive care
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