From supportive care to trauma: training integrative practitioners in the treatment of acute stress disorder.

Objective: The present conflict in Israel has led to a surge in cases of acute stress disorder (ASD). The study examined a training program for integrative medicine (IM) providers working in supportive and palliative care settings, teaching clinical skills for treating ASD.

Methods: A 10-h online training program, designed by supportive care trained IM and mental health professionals was attended by a group of 32 IM providers.

Coming out of the Integrative Oncology Comfort Zone: Addressing Healthcare Providers' Wartime-Related Concerns.

Study Objective: To assess the impact of a personalized integrative medicine (IM) intervention on healthcare providers (HCPs) expressing war-related emotional/spiritual and physical concerns.

Methods: Physicians, nurses, para-medical and other HCPs from 5 hospital departments in northern Israel underwent IM treatments provided by IM-trained practitioners working in integrative oncology (IO) care settings. The two main HCP-reported concerns were scored (from 0 to 6) before and following the intervention using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing questionnaire.

Identifying factors associated with disparities in accessing an Integrative Oncology program.

Introduction: Integrative oncology (IO) programs provide patients with evidence-based complementary medicine therapies within a supportive and palliative cancer care setting. This study retrospectively examined characteristics of patients with lung cancer predicting utilization of a freely-provided IO consultation at two medical centers in Israel.

Methods: Electronic medical files of 832 patients with lung cancer attending/not attending the IO consultation were searched for socio-demographic (age, gender, country of birth, place of residence, primary language spoken) and personal health (Body Mass Index; smoking; disability) characteristics; cancer-related parameters (primary tumor site, localized vs.

Assessing a Training Program for Integrative Medicine Practitioners in the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder.

Study Objective: The study examined a training program for integrative medicine (IM) providers, teaching clinical skills for treating acute stress disorder (ASD).

Methods: A 10-h online training program, designed by IM and mental health professionals, was attended by a group of 32 IM providers working in supportive and palliative oncology care. Pre- and post-course questionnaires assessed self-perceived levels of IM and mental health ASD-related skills (from 1, very low; to 7, very high).

An Integrative Pediatric Oncology Program Addressing Parents' Quality of Life-Related Concerns.

Background: Parents of children with cancer face bio-psycho-social-spiritual concerns which can significantly reduce quality of life (QoL). We examined the impact of an integrative oncology (IO) intervention on QoL-related concerns among parents of children in a pediatric hematology-oncology department.

Measures: The study was prospective, controlled, nonrandomized and patient-preferenced.

Herb-antitumour drug interaction risks: retrospective integrative oncology study.

Objectives: The use of herbal medicine is widespread among oncology patients, with potentially negative interactions with anticancer drugs. This study identified herbal products being used among a cohort of oncology patients, assessing the risk for an herb-drug interaction.

Methods: Herbal medicine use was examined among 42 oncology patients, identifying potential herb-drug interactions using four online sites.

Integrative oncology for patients with lung cancer: A prospective pragmatic controlled trial.

Introduction: Complementary medicine and integrative oncology modalities (IOM) have been included in the clinical practice guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians in the treatments of patients with lung cancer. The present study examined the impact of a patient-tailored IOM treatment program on quality of life (QoL)-related concerns among patients with non-small and small lung cancer undergoing active oncology treatment.

Methods: This controlled study was pragmatic and prospective assessing the adherence among patients referred by their oncology healthcare provider to an integrative physician consultation, followed by 6 weekly IOM treatments addressing QoL-related concerns.

Cross-Cultural Patient Counseling and Communication in the Integrative Medicine Setting: Respecting the Patient's Health Belief Model of Care.

Purpose Of Review: Communicating effectively with patients having a traditional, alternative or complementary medicine-related health-belief model is challenging in today's cross-cultural society. This narrative review explores the integrative medicine setting of care, focusing on insights from the integrative oncology daily practice, while addressing the relevance to the mental health setting. The way in which healthcare providers can enhance cultural-sensitive communication with patients and informal caregivers; recognize and respect health-beliefs to bridge cultural gaps; and generate an open, non-judgmental and mindful dialogue are discussed.

Fine-tuning the needle: analysis of acupuncturist response to alarming events during gynecological oncology surgery.

Objective: Examining an intra-operative acupuncture/acupressure setting, with real-time "fine-tuning" in response to alarming events (AEvs) during gynecological oncology surgery.

Methods: Narratives of acupuncturists providing intraoperative acupuncture during gynecological oncology surgery were qualitatively analyzed. These described real time "fine-tuning" in response to AEvs during surgery, identified through hemodynamic changes (e.

Integrative Medicine Across the Pediatric Cancer Care Trajectory: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of The Review: Children and adolescents with cancer, along with their parents and other informal caregivers, often report using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during active oncology and hemato-oncology treatment. Some adopt an "alternative" approach to conventional medical care, which often entails the use of these practices without the knowledge of the treating pediatrician. In contrast, many others search for consultation provided by a pediatric integrative oncology (IO) practitioner working with the conventional medical team.

Exploring unmet concerns in home hospice cancer care: Perspectives of patients, informal caregivers, palliative care providers, and family physicians.

Objectives: The study examines perspectives of patients in home hospice care; their informal caregivers; palliative health-care providers (HCPs); and family physicians, all regarding patients' unmet needs and quality of life (QoL)-related concerns.

Methods: Participants from all 4 groups were approached within 2 months after the patient's admission to the home hospice care unit. Participants completed Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCAW) questionnaires, for patient's QoL-related concerns.

Identifying Factors Associated With Disparities in Access to Integrative Oncology Program.

Context And Objectives: Cancer centers are increasingly providing complementary medicine as part of an emerging discipline termed 'integrative oncology' (IO). The present study explored factors associated with disparities in referral and adherence to a freely-provided IO program.

Methods: The databases of three oncology centers in northern Israel were searched retrospectively for chemotherapy-treated oncology patients eligible for referral by their oncology healthcare professionals to an integrative physician (IP) consultation.

Prevention of Bladder Cancer Recurrence With the Botanical Formula LCS103: A Case Series Study.

Despite effective chemotherapy and other available oncology treatments, recurrence rates for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remain high, with as many as 60% of patients requiring repeat intravesical treatments with BCG or other agents within a 24-month period. The botanical formula LCS103 has displayed anti-cancer activity on bladder cancer cells, though its clinical efficacy remains to be proven. A consecutive series of 30 patients with bladder cancer was examined retrospectively, of which a cohort of 20 patients (18 with NMIBC, 2 with metastatic disease) was treated with LCS103 for between 14 months and 16 years, in addition to their conventional oncology care.

Integrative Medicine for Cancer-Related Pain: A Narrative Review.

Cancer-related pain (C-RP) is a prevalent and debilitating concern among patients with cancer, with conventional treatments limited in their ability to provide adequate relief, and by the adverse effects associated with their use. Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) modalities have been shown to be potentially effective and safe for the treatment of pain and related symptoms, when used in conjunction with conventional medications and under medical supervision. An increasing number of oncology centers provide CIM within their conventional supportive and palliative care service, in an "Integrative Oncology" (IO) setting.

Exploring primary care physician feedback following an integrative oncology consultation.

Objective: To explore responses from primary care physicians (PCPs) from an integrative physician (IP) consultation and recommended integrative oncology (IO) treatment program.

Methods: Chemotherapy-treated patients were referred by their oncology healthcare professional to an IP, a physician dually trained in complementary medicine and supportive cancer care. The consultation summary and patient-centered IO treatment program was then sent to the patient's PCP, with PCP-to-IP responses analyzed qualitatively using ATLAS.

Challenges in Implementing Guideline on Integrative Oncology and Pain: The Israeli Perspective.

Context And Objectives: To explore the feasibility of implementing the joint guideline on integrative medicine for pain management in oncology, published by the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), for integrative oncology (IO) services in supportive and palliative care.

Methods: A qualitative research methodology was co-designed by the SIO-ASCO guideline committee, with the Society for Complementary Medicine, Israel Medical Association (IMA). A questionnaire with five open-ended questions exploring barriers and enablers to implementing the guideline was distributed to chairs and board members of nine IMA-affiliated medical societies; four deans of Israeli medical schools; and nurses from the Israeli Society for Oncology Nursing.

Identifying cultural, demographic, personal health and cancer-related barriers to integrative oncology care: a retrospective case-cohort study.

Purpose: Integrative oncology (IO) provides complementary and integrative medicine within conventional supportive and palliative cancer care. The present study set out to identify barriers to attending an integrative physician (IP) consultation, provided without charge within an IO treatment program.

Study Methods: Electronic files of adult oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy were studied.

A randomized-controlled trial assessing the effect of intraoperative acupuncture on anesthesia-related parameters during gynecological oncology surgery.

Context And Objectives: The present study examined the impact of intraoperative acupuncture on anesthesia-related parameters in patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery.

Methods: Participants underwent preoperative integrative oncology (IO) touch/relaxation treatments, followed by intraoperative acupuncture (Group A); preoperative IO treatments without acupuncture (Group B); or standard care only (Group C). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), MAP variability (mean of MAP standard deviation), bispectral index (BIS), and calculated blood pressure Average Real Variability (ARV) were measured intraoperatively.

Nurse-guided patient self-treatment in integrative oncology: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Nurses are increasingly becoming involved in integrative oncology (IO) programs. This study examined the additive effect of nurse-provided guidance for self-administered IO therapies on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: The study was randomized and controlled, enrolling patients undergoing active oncology treatment with IO interventions for fatigue and other QoL-related outcomes.

Integrative Medicine for Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose Of Review: Integrative oncology (IO) services provide a wide range of complementary medicine therapies, many of which can augment the beneficial effects of conventional supportive and palliative care for patients with ovarian cancer. This study aims to assess the current state of integrative oncology research in ovarian cancer care.

Recent Findings: We review the clinical research both supporting the effectiveness of leading IO modalities in ovarian cancer care as well as addressing potential safety-related concerns.

Integrative oncology for palliative care nurses: pre-post training evaluation.

Objectives: Integrative oncology (IO) is increasingly being incorporated in supportive and palliative cancer care. This study examined an IO-palliative care training programme for nurses from community and hospital settings.

Methods: A 120-hour course, attended by 24 palliative care nurses without IO training, included precourse/postcourse questionnaires examining knowledge, attitudes and level of IO-palliative care skills.

Acupuncture during gynecological oncology surgery: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of integrative therapies on perioperative pain and anxiety.

Background: In this study, the impact of a multimodal integrative oncology pre- and intraoperative intervention on pain and anxiety among patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery was explored.

Methods: Study participants were randomized to three groups: Group A received preoperative touch/relaxation techniques, followed by intraoperative acupuncture; Group B received preoperative touch/relaxation only; and a control group (Group C) received standard care. Pain and anxiety were scored before and after surgery using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCAW) and Quality of Recovery (QOR-15) questionnaires, using Part B of the QOR to assess pain, anxiety, and other quality-of-life parameters.