Development and implementation of a new part-time continuing education course in integrative oncology.

Introduction: Integrative oncology combines evidence-based methods of oncological therapy, supportive medicine, nutrition and physical activity as well as complementary medicine and can significantly improve the effectiveness of therapy and the quality of life for cancer patients. However, scientifically based continuing education in this area has so far rarely been available.

Project Outline: The part-time continuing education program in "Integrative Onkologie" at the University of Jena is the first in Germany to offer scientifically based training for various healthcare professions.

Job Satisfaction Among First-Generation Migrant Physicians in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine in Germany.

Background/objectives: This study examines job satisfaction, burnout, and well-being among first-generation migrant physicians in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine in Germany, comparing them to their native German counterparts.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized, collecting data from 513 physicians, 110 of whom identified as having a migration background. Job satisfaction was measured using the Warr-Cook-Wall (WCW) Job Satisfaction Scale, burnout was assessed with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and well-being was evaluated using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index.

Education and Communication on the Topic of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw When Taking Bone-Stabilizing Drugs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the communication between doctors and patients who were taking bone-stabilizing medication and in rare cases developed osteonecrosis of the jaw as a result.

Material And Methods: A standardized questionnaire recorded deficits based on patient experiences. These data were used to develop solution strategies for improving doctor-patient communication and the benefit-risk assessment of medication use.

Curcumin as a complementary treatment in oncological therapy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is employed by numerous cancer patients to support conventional cancer therapy. This systematic review aims to summarize the existing clinical evidence and to provide an overview of the potential benefits and risks associated with curcumin supplementation.

Methods: In January 2024, we conducted a systematic search of five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Medline) using a complex search strategy.

Side-effects of Phytotherapeutics in Cancer Care - A Review of Inconsistencies in National and International Databases.

Background/aim: The interest in phytotherapy in patients with cancer is immensely high. When using herbal medicine, knowledge of potential side-effects is essential as part of counselling the patient. The aim of this study was therefore to collect information on the side-effects of popular medicinal plants and to compare different official and the most popular sources of information reporting the side-effects of phytotherapeutics.

Barriers of Ukrainian refugees and migrants in accessing German healthcare.

Background: This study focused on Ukrainian refugees and migrants, a population that, with an ongoing war, is expected to grow in Germany. Over 1 million Ukrainians with exceptional legal status and access to public insurance in Germany significantly burden governmental services, especially German healthcare. It is thus essential to facilitate their integration into the healthcare system and ensure its proper usage.

A web-based knowledge database to provide evidence-based information to cancer patients: Utilization within the PIKKO study.

Purpose: Cancer is associated with an urgent need for understandable and reliable information, which is often not satisfied by information available online. Therefore, as part of the PIKKO project, a web-based knowledge database (WDB) was introduced to provide cancer patients with quality-assured, evidence-based information. This paper aims to provide insights into the usage (Who? How? What?) and the effects regarding health literacy of the WDB.

Dreaming in patients with cancer and their partners-an underestimated factor for quality of life?

Sleep disorders are prevalent among patients with cancer and their caregivers as well, affecting their quality of life. But the relationship between sleep quality, dream experiences, and life satisfaction in patients with cancer and their partners is understudied. The present research aimed to quantitatively investigate the dream experiences of oncology patients and explore the interdependence between patients and their partners in terms of dream experiences and life satisfaction.

Reflexology in oncological treatment - a systematic review.

Background: As cancer and its therapy comes with a wide range of negative effects, people look for options to mitigate these effects. Reflexology is among the options of complementary medicine.

Method: In March 2022 a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of reflexology on cancer patients.

The quality of German - language patient decision aids for oncological patients on the internet.

Background: Previous studies have already shown that decision aids are a suitable tool for patient decision-making. The aim of this work is to conduct an online search for freely available, German-language patient decision aids (PDAs) for cancer patients, followed by an assessment of their quality. For this purpose, a rating tool that is as manageable as possible was developed on the basis of already existing quality criteria.

Psychosocial effects of the corona pandemic on people with cancer: a qualitative study.

Introduction: The Corona pandemic caused far-reaching changes since 2020. We wanted to find out which factors determined the psycho-social well-being of cancer patients during the pandemic.

Methods: From May to July 2021, structured interviews were conducted concerning lockdown, social limitations, the virus itself, the treatment situation, and opportunities.

Medical Students' and Radiology Technician Trainees' eHealth Literacy and Hygiene Awareness-Asynchronous and Synchronous Digital Hand Hygiene Training in a Single-Center Trial.

Next to the known nosocomial infections, the COVID-19 pandemic was an example for the need for the immediate implementation of functioning hygiene concepts and knowledge transfer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-assessment of ehealth literacy in terms of finding, using and critically evaluating health information and theoretical and practical hygiene awareness on a voluntary participation basis at the Jena University Hospital in 2022. The well-established and validated eHEALS and WHO questionnaire on hand hygiene (HH) knowledge for healthcare workers was completely filled by 204 participants (191 medical students; 13 healthcare trainees).

Evaluation of a Virtual Dance Class for Cancer Patients and Their Partners during the Corona Pandemic-A Real-World Observational Study.

Background: During the corona pandemic, all courses on physical activity for cancer patients were canceled. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of switching dancing classes for patients and their partners to online classes.

Methods: Patients and partners from courses at four different locations who consented to the online course offer were asked to fill in a pseudonymous questionnaire on access to the training, technical challenges, acceptance and well-being (1-item visual analog scale from 1 to 10) before and after the training.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the health care utilization of cancer patients.

Background: COVID-19 has impacted both society and medical care. While Germany entered the first lockdown in spring 2020, the PIKKO study (Patient information, communication and competence empowerment in oncology) was still active. The intervention modules, patient navigator (PN), services of the Saarland Cancer Society (SCS), psycho-social counseling and different courses, and online knowledge database (ODB) continued to be offered, but in an adapted form.

Patient information, communication and competence empowerment in oncology: Results and learnings from the PIKKO study.

Purpose: Many concepts for accompanying and supporting cancer patients exist and have been studied over time. One of them was PIKKO (a German acronym for "Patient information, communication and competence empowerment in oncology"), which combined a patient navigator, socio-legal and psychological counseling (with psychooncologists), courses dealing with various supportive aspects, and a knowledge database with validated and easy-to-understand disease-related information. The aim was to increase the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL), self-efficacy as well as health literacy and to reduce psychological complaints such as depression and anxiety.

[Complementary and alternative medicine-An option for chronic pain patients?].

The interest of patients with chronic pain in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high. The aim of an accompanying complementary therapy is to strengthen the patient's self-efficacy, the ability to make decisions and the autonomy. The best evidence exists for physical activity and a balanced diet.

[Psychometric Properties of the Qualiskope-A for Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Outpatient Medical Treatment: Use in Oncology and Transferability to Inpatient Care].

Aim: The Qualiskope-A is a German-language PREM (Patient Reported Experience Measure) which, with the help of 27 items allocated to four scales, enables measurement of patient satisfaction with outpatient medical treatment along four dimensions of patient satisfaction. This study examined whether the questionnaire delivers reliable results in an oncological population and whether its application can be extended to inpatient care.

Method: Required data was collected as part of the PIKKO study.

Development and Application of a Quality Assessment Tool for Oncological Question Prompt Lists.

No specific quality criteria yet exist for question prompt lists (QPLs), so this study aims to develop a quality assessment tool to then use for an evaluation of online-available QPLs. An online search was conducted for German-language QPLs using different internet search engines and terms. A wide range of existing quality criteria for patient information was adapted to the field of QPLs to build an assessment tool and evaluate all identified QPLs by four independent raters.

Malnutrition in Head and Neck Cancer: A Patient-reported Outcome Study.

Background/aim: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with a high risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition is defined as acute weight loss greater than 5% and increases mortality 1.7-fold for HNC patients.

"I do not hear you!": hearing-impaired cancer patients report their communication experiences.

Purpose: Hearing impairment has a high impact on communication between cancer patients and their oncologists. What is the patient's perspective on this problem and how can physicians draw lessons from it?

Methods: Together with otorhinolaryngologists and hearing-impaired patients, we developed a questionnaire including the sections: WHO (Five) Well-Being Index (5 items), Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) as established self-estimation of hearing function (24 items), use of hearing aid (4 items) as well as patients' experiences (15 items), difficulties (9 items) and wishes (7 items) regarding the communication with physicians. The experiences, difficulties, wishes, and life satisfaction of cancer patients were analyzed between groups based on participants' APHAB scores, well-being and use of hearing aids.

Umbrella review: Summary of findings for acupuncture as treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia.

Acupuncture is a common part of complementary medicine. However, traditional Chinese acupuncture has been built on concepts which are not in accordance with science-based medicine. Our aim was to critically assess the evidence presented in systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) about the effectiveness of acupuncture on radiotherapy induced xerostomia.

Usage of Complementary and Alternative Methods, Lifestyle, and Psychological Variables in Cancer Care.

Background/aim: People who are undergoing cancer treatment often ask themselves what they can do in addition to conventional medical therapy with regard to nutrition, activity, and complementary methods. However, we know little about the motivation why people opt for one or the other measure. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the extent of physical activity (PA), healthy nutrition, and the use of complementary methods in relation to both demographic and psychological data.