Abstract
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.
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Eran Ben-Arye declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dana Elly declares that she has no conflict of interest. Noah Samuels declares that he has no conflict of interest. Orit Gressel declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Katerina Shulman declares that she has no conflict of interest. Elad Schiff declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ofer Lavie declares that he has no conflict of interest. Amir Minerbi declares that he has no conflict of interest.
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Ben-Arye, E., Elly, D., Samuels, N. et al. Effects of a patient-tailored integrative oncology intervention in the relief of pain in palliative and supportive cancer care. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 147, 2361–2372 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-020-03506-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-020-03506-1