Retrospective evaluation of the Complementary Health and Wellbeing (CHW) service delivered at the Christie NHS trust UK.

Introduction: The Complementary Health and Wellbeing service has been offering integrative therapies to cancer patients at The Christie Hospital NHS Trust since 1997 and has not undergone an external service evaluation in that time. It is considered a pioneering service.

Method: An external academic was invited to undertake a service evaluation based on information and experiences since the implementation of services changes as the result of the COVID 19 pandemic.

A survey of UK nurses about their care of people with malignant fungating wounds.

Purpose: To gain an understanding of the nursing professionals who treat people with malignant fungating wounds (MFW) in the UK and their current practices, including perceived barriers and facilitators to providing MFW care.

Method: An online anonymous questionnaire was created with questions about the role of nursing professionals who reported caring for patients with MFW, the number of people with MFW they regularly cared for, treatment aims, treatments used, and challenges faced. These questions were developed with professional input and piloted.

Acupuncture in cancer care: recommendations for safe practice (peer-reviewed expert opinion).

Background: Up-to-date recommendations for the safe practice of acupuncture in integrative oncology are overdue with new cancer treatments and an increase in survivors with late effects of disease; 17 years have elapsed since Filshie and Hester's 2006 guidelines. During 2022/2023 an expert panel assembled to produce updated recommendations aiming to facilitate safe and appropriate care by acupuncturists working with people with cancer.

Methods: A core development team comprising three integrative oncology professionals comprehensively updated pre-existing unpublished recommendations.

Survey of European Blood and Marrow Transplant (EBMT) nurses to explore the current topical skin management of chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease in the real-world clinical environment.

Purpose: To understand the current practice in relation to the management of topical therapy for cutaneous chronic Graft versus Host Disease (ccGvHD) and access to extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) within European allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation centres by a survey of nurses.

Method: This was a multicentre cross-national study at eligible European Blood and Marrow Transplant centres. Eligibility required more than 30% of treated patients having allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplant.

Living with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a nested qualitative study.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting side-effect for patients undergoing a variety of chemotherapy regimens. These effects can have a detrimental impact on patients' quality of life and ability to perform everyday tasks.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the experience of living with CIPN prior to and while participating in a randomised study of acupuncture versus a control wait group.

Sexual function of adult long-term survivors and their partners after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in Europe (S-FAST): a study from the Transplant Complications Working Party and Nurses Group of the EBMT.

Sexual dysfunction after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a common long-term complication. We conducted a European multicenter cross-sectional study of adult allo-HCT recipients who had survived >2 years and their partners to investigate sexual functioning after HCT and to evaluate whether discussion about sexual functioning between the transplant team and the survivor and partner was perceived to have taken place. In total, 136 survivors (77 males, 59 females) and 81 partners (34 males, 47 females) participated.

A randomised, pragmatic clinical trial of ACUpuncture plus standard care versus standard care alone FOr Chemotherapy Induced peripheral Neuropathy (ACUFOCIN).

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose limiting toxicity posing a major clinical challenge for managing patients receiving specific chemotherapy regimens (e.g., Taxanes).

Risk of infectious complications in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation depending on the site of central venous catheter insertion-multicenter prospective observational study, from the IDWP EBMT and Nurses Group of EBMT.

The current guidelines for prevention of infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) do not specify which central venous catheter (CVC) insertion site should be preferred in allogeneic HSCT recipients-internal jugular vein (IJV) or subclavian vein (SCV). We designed a multicenter prospective observational study comparing the risk of infectious and non-infectious complications between the two most common sites of CVC insertion (IJV and SCV) in allogeneic HSCT. There were in total 232 consecutive patients (86 IJV and 146 SCV) who underwent adult allogeneic HSCT reported from 11 centers in 8 countries.

Contribution of nurses to protective environment in haematopoietic cell transplant setting: an international survey by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Infections are frequently experienced complications for patients undergoing haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). To assess current infection prevention strategies, an international survey among HCT nurses was conducted by the Nurses Group and IDWP of the EBMT. Nurse representatives from all EBMT transplant centres were invited to complete an online questionnaire on protective environment in adult and paediatric HCT units.

Nutritional support in stem cell transplantation programs: Results from a multicenter survey of nurses on behalf of the Nurses Group and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo.

Objectives: Malnutrition in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) can develop rapidly without appropriate nutritional support and affect morbidity and mortality. Guidance to monitor and manage nutrition status is described within the literature; however, whether this is applied in clinical practice is unclear.

Methods: This paper describes a cross-sectional survey to explore current practice approaches in nutrition support management and adherence to international guidelines.

Estrogenicity of essential oils is not required to relieve symptoms of urogenital atrophy in breast cancer survivors.

Background: Urogenital atrophy (UA) is a common treatment-limiting side effect of endocrine therapies. Topical estrogen is effective but systemic absorption may counter aromatase inhibitor efficacy. Numerous complementary approaches are marketed for use in UA without rigorous testing of their estrogenicity.

Variability of nutritional practices in peritransplant period after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a survey by the Complications and Quality of Life Working Party of the EBMT.

Recommendations on screening and nutritional support for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been presented by international nutritional societies, but nutritional practices remain poorly standardized. Following the general policy of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) to standardize transplantation procedures, the Complications and Quality of Life Working Party and Nursing Research Group carried out a survey among all EBMT centers about their current nutritional practices. The aim of this study was to better understand current practices, differences from available guidelines, and possible barriers for recommended nutritional therapy.

Health-care professionals' perspective on discussing sexual issues in adult patients after haematopoietic cell transplantation.

The majority of adult patients have sexual concerns after post-haematopoietic cell transplantation. Even so, health-care professionals (HCP) do not routinely discuss these problems. We, therefore, surveyed all the members of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation to evaluate the barriers and facilitators to discussing sexual issues.

The meaning and perceived value of mind-body practices for people living with HIV: a qualitative synthesis.

Mind-body practices (MBPs) are a subset of complementary medicine that represents a selection of self-care activities that may promote the health of people living with HIV (PLWH). No synthesis of qualitative research in this context, which might inform service provision and research priorities, has yet been published. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, identifying papers exploring the experience of MBPs in PLWH.

Basic oral care for hematology-oncology patients and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: a position paper from the joint task force of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT).

Purpose: Hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at risk for oral complications which may cause significant morbidity and a potential risk of mortality. This emphasizes the importance of basic oral care prior to, during and following chemotherapy/HSCT. While scientific evidence is available to support some of the clinical practices used to manage the oral complications, expert opinion is needed to shape the current optimal protocols.

Complementary therapy for carers on a transplant unit.

Background: This paper reports on the evaluation of a Carers Complementary Therapy Project on a Haematology and Transplant Unit.

Aim: To evaluate the project using quantitative and qualitative data.

Design: Data was collected on consultation forms and entered into a spreadsheet for a study period of 24 months.

Aromasticks in cancer care: an innovation not to be sniffed at.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of a new aromatherapy intervention introduced within an acute cancer care setting in the UK.

Background: Aromatherapy is a popular complementary therapy within oncology settings and is known to help relieve patients' anxiety. A new method of delivering aromatherapy to patients was adopted by a complementary therapy service at a UK hospital; aromasticks are similar in design to the Vicks® Vapour Inhaler®, with the intention of helping patients manage anxiety, nausea and sleep disturbance.

Complementary therapists' motivation to work in cancer/supportive and palliative care: a multi-centre case study.

Purpose: To uncover complementary therapists' motivation to work in cancer/supportive and palliative care.

Method: The study employed a multiple case-study design, involving three cancer/supportive and palliative care settings in the North West of England. A questionnaire survey (n=51) was undertaken, followed by semi-structured interviews with a subgroup of the sample (n=28).

Complementary therapists' training and cancer care: a multi-site study.

Purpose: To explore professional experience and training of complementary therapists working within cancer care.

Method: A Questionnaire survey of complementary therapists practising in three cancer care settings in North West England.

Results: Respondents (n=51; n=47 female; mean age 50 years, range 23-78 years) had varied career backgrounds; 24 were healthcare professionals who also practised as complementary therapists (nurse n=19; physiotherapist n=3; doctor n=2) whilst 27 were complementary therapists with no prior healthcare background.

Massage in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy reduces serum cortisol and prolactin.

Objective: The objective is to identify whether single 20 min massage sessions were safe and effective in reducing stress levels of isolated haematological oncology patients.

Design: Based on a randomised controlled trial, 39 patients were randomised to aromatherapy, massage or rest (control) arm.

Measures: The measures were serum cortisol and prolactin levels, quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and semi-structured interviews.

CAM and cancer care: champions for integration.

The paper reviews challenges and developments in the integration of complementary therapies in cancer care. These issues are examined by reflecting on papers published in CTNM in the last 10 years by champions of CAM in cancer care. Given the aim of the journal to encourage an inclusive readership, multidisciplinary and user perspectives are included.

Learning from dolphins.

Dolphins have been shown to have a powerful impact on the wellbeing of humans, how do they do it? This article reflects the thoughts of one person after spending time with these wonderful creatures.