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Trends in integrative medicine and health consults: differences between cancer survivors and patients without cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

The objectives were to compare patients with and without cancer who sought an integrative health (IH) consult and reasons for seeking a consult.

Design

Descriptive cross-sectional study that employed a secondary analysis of an integrative health database supplemented by a retrospective medical record review.

Setting/location

Integrative Medicine and Health program in a Southwestern United States academic medical center.

Subjects

Eight hundred thirty-nine adults over the age of 18 seeking IH consultation.

Results

The number of complementary therapies reported prior to consult were not significantly different between groups. The most reported complementary therapies used by cancer survivors were multivitamins, exercise, and turmeric. Patients without cancer reported significantly higher pain levels than cancer survivors. Cancer survivors reported significantly higher energy, sleep levels, overall health, spiritual wellbeing, and significantly better relationships compared to patients without cancer. Cancer survivors reported fatigue and cancer as the top reasons for IH consult.

Conclusion

Participants without cancer reported higher levels of pain and lower levels of energy, sleep, overall health, spiritual wellbeing, and relationships compared to cancer survivors. However, cancer survivors still reported levels of unmanaged symptoms. Complementary therapy use prior to IMH consult was similar between groups; however, IMH providers recommended more treatments for patients without cancer. Our results highlight that more evidence is needed to guide IMH recommendations, especially for cancer survivors who may still be in treatment. Additionally, our results support evidence-based recommendations that all cancer survivors should be assessed for complementary therapy use and provided counseling by qualified providers on their advantages and limitations.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence, Mayo Clinic Nursing Research Steering Committee, and Oregon Health & Science University Presidential Scholarship. The content is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not reflect the views of any of the funders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls St, RM 4320, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

    Noël M. Arring & Debra L. Barton

  2. Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, 5777 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA

    Noël M. Arring & Amy Hutson

  3. Division of General Internal Medicine, Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 13737 North 92nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, USA

    Denise Millstine

  4. William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Maloney Hall, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA

    Karen S. Lyons

  5. Research Biostatistics Division, Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA

    Marlene Girardo

  6. Oregon Health & Science University, School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, OR, 97239, Portland, USA

    Lillian M. Nail

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  1. Noël M. Arring
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Correspondence to Noël M. Arring.

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The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved this study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Arring, N.M., Millstine, D., Barton, D.L. et al. Trends in integrative medicine and health consults: differences between cancer survivors and patients without cancer. Support Care Cancer 29, 3103–3112 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05815-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05815-0

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