Providing integrative care in the pre-chemotherapy setting: a pragmatic controlled patient-centered trial with implications for supportive cancer care

Benefit of inhalation aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for stress and anxiety in a clinical setting – A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings.

METHODS

A search strategy was developed using various databases. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as well as single and double-blind pilot clinical studies (non-RCT) using inhalation aromatherapy with an essential oil blend or a single essential oil were examined. All studies included a control intervention and use of a validated measurement tool. The time period under review was years 2000-2021. Due to the high level of heterogeneity and element of bias, a narrative synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

The search strategy initially retrieved 628 studies and through application of the selection criteria and the removal of duplicates, 76 studies were selected for review with a total of 6539 patients. In 42% of the RCTs, physiological measures including vital signs and/or salivary cortisol were used in addition to questionnaires. Over 70% of the studies reported a positive effect on anxiety levels in the aromatherapy intervention groups compared with the control. However, in many cases this is limited by the absence of safety data, imprecise reporting of plant species and dosage of essential oil.

CONCLUSION

Inhalation aromatherapy has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety with data emerging to further support this result across a wide modality of clinical treatments. However, there is a clear need for the development of standard protocols for research in this area, generating measurable results which will create the opportunity for more rigorous evidence-based outcomes.

Diversity of interpretations of the concept "patient-centered care for breast cancer patients"; a scoping review of current literature

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Patient-centered care is considered a vital component of good quality care for breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, the implementation of this valuable concept in clinical practice appears to be difficult. The goal of this study is to bridge the gap between theoretical elaboration of "patient-centered care" and clinical practice. To that purpose, a scoping analysis was performed of the application of the term "patient-centered care in breast cancer treatment" in present-day literature.

METHOD

For data-extraction, a literature search was performed extracting references that were published in 2018 and included the terms "patient-centered care" and "breast cancer". The articles were systematically traced for answers to the following three questions: "What is patient-centered care?", "Why perform patient-centered care?", and "How to realize patient-centered care?". For the content analysis, these answers were coded and assembled into meaningful clusters until separate themes arose which concur with various interpretations of the term "patient-centered care".

RESULTS

A total of 60 publications were retained for analysis. Traced answers to the three questions "what", "why", and "how" varied considerably in recent literature concerning breast cancer treatment. Despite the inconsistent use of the term "patient-centered care," we did not find any critical consideration about the nature of the concept, regardless of the applied interpretation. Interventions that are supposed to contribute to the heterogeneous concept of patient-centered care as such, seem to be judged desirable, virtually without empirical justification.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose, contrary to previous efforts to define "patient-centered care" more accurately, to embrace the heterogeneity of the concept and apply "patient-centered care" as an umbrella-term for all healthcare that intends to contribute to the acknowledgement of the person in the patient. For the justification of measures to realize patient-centered care for breast cancer patients, instead of a mere contribution to the abstract concept, we insist on the demonstration of desirable real-world effects.

Data Analysis for Modeling the Effect of Acupuncture on Postchemotherapy Cancer Fatigue in Gynecologic Oncology Patients

Now cancer-related fatigue is gradually being emphasized, which is a common symptom in cancer patients. During long-term radiotherapy, the emotion of patients will be affected directly, and inevitably produce cancer-caused fatigue needle symptoms. Moreover, the weakness and fatigue are always produced simultaneously, which are harmful to patients' prognosis level of their overall survival quality. The acupuncture has a helpful effect on improving the Chinese medical evidence of side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in tumor patients. In this paper, we model the effect of acupuncture on cancer fatigue after chemotherapy in gynecologic oncology patients through data analysis, so as to effectively analyze the degree of cancer fatigue after chemotherapy in patients.

The combination of traditional and auricular acupuncture to prevent xerostomia and anxiety in irradiated patients with HNSCC: a preventive, parallel, single-blind, 2-arm controlled study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on xerostomia in irradiated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

STUDY DESIGN

A preventive, 2-arm, parallel, single-blind trial was performed. Patients with HNSCC (N = 296) were checked for eligibility, and 107 patients were enrolled in the study. The study comprised 1 group that did not receive the intervention (n = 55) and the interventional group that received traditional and auricular acupuncture (n = 52). The primary outcome was the reduction of the patients' xerostomia after treatment. In addition, the secondary outcome was the reduction of anxiety.

RESULTS

The current acupuncture protocol reduced the xerostomia score and increased saliva volume and density without changing salivary pH. Additionally, acupuncture decreased the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score after radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Combining traditional and auricular acupuncture reduced xerostomia and increased saliva volume without changing the saliva's pH in irradiated patients with HNSCC. Additionally, the combination of traditional and auricular acupuncture reduced BAI scores.

Effects of a patient-tailored integrative oncology intervention in the relief of pain in palliative and supportive cancer care

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

The present study examined the impact of an integrative oncology treatment program in the relief of pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or palliative care.

METHODS

In this pragmatic prospective controlled study, patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or palliative care were referred by their oncology healthcare providers to an integrative physician (IP) consultation, followed by weekly integrative treatments. Patients attending ≥ 4 sessions during the first 6 weeks of the study were considered to be highly adherent to integrative care (AIC). Pain was assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks using the ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) and EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) tools.

RESULTS

Of 815 eligible patients, 484 (59.4%) were high-AIC and 331 low-AIC. Mean pain scores decreased significantly from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks in both groups. However, ESAS and EORTC pain scores improved significantly more in the high-AIC group at 6 weeks (p= 0.008), though not at 12 weeks. Between-group analysis of participants undergoing adjuvant/neo-adjuvant chemotherapy showed higher pain reduction in the high-AIC group at 6 weeks (ESAS, p = 0.006; EORTC, p = 0.046), as was the case with patients receiving palliative care (ESAS p = 0.04; EORTC p = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS

High adherence to integrative care was found to be associated with a greater effect on pain relief at 6 weeks but not at 12 weeks in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or palliative care.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Integrative Oncology: Bridging Clinical Care With Research

There is growing interest in the value of routine collection and monitoring of patient-reported outcomes as part of high-quality, patient-centered, oncology care. Integrative oncology, with its focus on providing symptom and lifestyle support for patients throughout the cancer care continuum, serves a diverse patient population with a complex, changing symptom burden. Monitoring of patient-reported outcomes can contribute significantly to the successful comprehensive evaluation and management of patients receiving integrative oncology care. Data collected as part of an integrative oncology evaluation can also support real-world clinical research efforts to help learn more about the effects of integrative oncology interventions on patient symptoms, quality of life, and treatment outcomes.

A supportive care intervention for people with metastatic melanoma being treated with immunotherapy: a pilot study assessing feasibility, perceived benefit, and acceptability

INTRODUCTION

Increasing numbers of metastatic melanoma (MM) patients are receiving immunotherapy treatment, including pembrolizumab, and the impact on their well-being is underexplored.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility of a multimodal supportive care program to MM patients being treated with pembrolizumab.

METHODS

This pre-post-test feasibility cohort study recruited MM participants treated with pembrolizumab: (i) supportive care intervention with usual care and (ii) usual care. The intervention comprised comprehensive medical assessment by supportive care physician (SCP), exercise physiologist (EP), and dietitian then a tailored supportive care program. Programs included exercise, dietary advice, non-invasive complementary therapies, and psychology consultation. Outcome measures included adherence, patient-reported symptoms, anxiety and depression, and toxicity. Descriptive data are reported.

RESULTS

We recruited 28 participants: 13 intervention and 15 control; three did not complete the study. Most were male, with median age 66 (range 42-85) years. All intervention participants completed baseline assessments with SCP, EP, and dietitian. Two missed follow-up with EP or dietitian. Symptoms most troubling at baseline were as follows: fatigue (n = 6), sleep (n = 6), general aches and pains (n = 5), and memory (n = 4). All intervention participants were prescribed 16 exercise sessions; 8 (50%) completed all; overall exercise adherence was 85%. Integrative therapies were accessed by 85% (11) participants. Immunotherapy-related adverse event rates were low and SCP consultation identified symptoms not captured by CTCAE 4.0.

CONCLUSIONS

A holistic supportive care intervention tailored to individual needs is feasible. The symptom burden in MM patients was low. Further investigation of the intervention is warranted, focused on populations with higher symptom burden to improve outcomes.

Advising Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review

A majority of women undergoing conventional treatment for breast cancer also undertake complementary and integrative approaches. Practitioners knowledgeable about the evidence base behind common integrative approaches can help patients attain improved quality of life, and at times, improved survival. Evidence-based recommendations include the following: a plant-based diet for general health after diagnosis, and carbohydrate restriction for patients with estrogen receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer may be prudent. Other dietary recommendations include a 13-h daily overnight fast. Carefully selected patients may choose to fast the day before and the day of chemotherapy to decrease side effects. Specific food recommendations include avoidance or limitation of alcohol, and liberal culinary use of cruciferous vegetables, coffee, green tea, soy, and flaxseed. Promising supplements include diindolylmethane and melatonin. Omega 3 fatty acids may help with bone density in patients on aromatase inhibitors, but may increase chemotherapy resistance. Findings regarding the usefulness of multivitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E are weak and/or mixed different exercise modalities may have different effects and thus play different roles in breast cancer therapy. Aerobic and resistance training combined during breast cancer chemotherapy may confer a survival benefit, while yoga may improve outcome in lymphedema patients. Current evidence suggests that meditation, yoga, breathing, music therapy, guided imagery, and hypnosis may improve mood and quality of life during breast cancer treatment. Acupuncture is useful for treating side effects of breast cancer therapies, including hot flushes, aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and vulvodynia. Vaginal moisturizers and vaginal rings supplying low-dose estrogen can be useful in the treatment of symptoms of estrogen-deprivation states caused by breast cancer treatments; such symptoms include vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and sexual dysfunction. Carbon dioxide laser technology can rejuvenate atrophied vaginal mucosa and relieve dyspareunia, allowing avoidance of estrogen therapy. Tertiary sexual health centers are available for referral.