Clinical and Economic Implications of Hydroxyurea Intolerance in Polycythemia Vera in Routine Clinical Practice.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic hematologic neoplasm commonly treated with hydroxyurea (HU). We utilized the advanced digitalized database of Maccabi Healthcare Services to retrospectively investigate the clinical and economic implications of HU intolerance in the routine clinical care of PV patients in Israel. We collected data on demographics, physician visits, hospitalizations, laboratory results, medication purchases, cardiovascular and thrombotic events, mental health, economic outcomes, and mortality.

Association Between Physical Activity and Use of Complementary Medicine by Female Oncology Patients in an Integrative Palliative Care Setting.

To examine the association between physical activity and the reported use of complementary medicine by patients with breast and gynecological cancer referred or self-referred to a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) consultation within a palliative care context. Retrospective observational study analyzing the medical files of patients referred to a CIM consultation provided within a specialized integrative oncology clinic for demographic and cancer-related parameters; participation in physical exercise and activities; and current use of nonconventional medical practices. Quality of life (QoL) outcomes were assessed during the initial CIM consultation by using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) tool.

Barriers and challenges in integration of anthroposophic medicine in supportive breast cancer care.

In the last decade, more and more oncology centers are challenged with complementary medicine (CM) integration within supportive breast cancer care. Quality of life (QOL) improvement and attenuation of oncology treatment side effects are the core objectives of integrative CM programs in cancer care. Yet, limited research is available on the use of specific CM modalities in an integrative setting and on cancer patients' compliance with CM consultation.

Touching ethics: assessing the applicability of ethical rules for safe touch in CAM--outcomes of a CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) practitioner survey in Israel.

Introduction: Recently, ethical guidelines regarding safe touch in CAM were developed in Israel. Publishing ethical codes does not imply that they will actually help practitioners to meet ethical care standards. The effectiveness of ethical rules depends on familiarity with the code and its content.

Integrative pediatric care: parents' attitudes toward communication of physicians and CAM practitioners.

Objective: In this study, we explored parents' perspectives toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by their children and its impact on parent-doctor and doctor-CAM-practitioner communication.

Patients And Methods: We designed a 2-arm study of parents who approached either conventional primary care or CAM clinics with their children to consult physicians or practitioners regarding their child's health.

Results: A total of 599 parents responded to our questionnaire (319 in 5 conventional clinics [83.

Bridging the physician and CAM practitioner communication gap: suggested framework for communication between physicians and CAM practitioners based on a cross professional survey from Israel.

Objective: Our study aimed to develop a framework to improve communication between physicians and CAM practitioners regarding mutual patients.

Methods: Following a modified Delphi process, we developed preliminary recommendations regarding communication between physicians and CAM practitioners. We then surveyed 473 physicians and 781 CAM practitioners regarding their opinions on these recommendations.

Development of ethical rules for boundaries of touch in complementary medicine--outcomes of a Delphi process.

The practice of complementary medicine (CAM) often involves touch. The unique philosophy of many CAM therapies, and the setting in which treatments are provided create a therapeutic space which may be less clearly defined than in conventional settings - a space in which the boundaries between professional touch and personal/intimate touch may become easily obscured. Thus, complementary therapists need clear definitions and firm boundaries in order to maintain therapeutic efficacy and commitment.