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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Conceptualizing an Integrative Multiple Myeloma Care: The Role of Nutrition, Supplements, and Complementary Modalities.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy, and its incidence has been increasing enormously in recent years. The prognosis of MM has changed radically with the introduction of new drugs that have improved life expectancy; recurrences are a common occurrence during the course of the disease and are characterized by an increase in refractory to treatment. Moreover, MM patients are challenged by quality of life-related concerns while limited conventional therapy may be offered.

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.

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.

On Being a Stranger in a Foreign Land: Providing Integrative Oncology Therapies to COVID-19 Medical Professionals.

This narrative describes an innovative program using integrative medicine therapies to improve the well-being of patients and providers in a hospital’s COVID-19 departments.

Can integrative oncology increase adherence to chemotherapy in advanced gynecologic cancer?

Objective: Integrative oncology (IO) has been shown to improve quality-of-life (QoL) and increase adherence to planned chemotherapy regimens. This study examined the impact of a patient-tailored IO program on adherence to chemotherapy among patients with advanced gynecological cancer.

Methods: This prospective non-randomized, pragmatic, preference study examined patients with stage III/IV gynecological cancers undergoing 6 weeks of weekly IO treatments.

From the "what" to the "how": Teaching integrative medicine-related skills to medical students during COVID-19.

Objective: To examine the impact of an integrative medicine (IM) course on self-perceived IM-related communication and research skills.

Methods: A 3-day mandatory "hybrid" (online and in-person) IM course was held within COVID-19 restrictions for 161 pre-clerkship medical students, with workshops facilitated by mentor healthcare professionals (IM and non-IM) and student-directed tasks. Self-perceived levels of 6 IM-related skills were scored (from 1 to 5) for history-taking; communicating with patients with "alternative" health-beliefs; referral to IM consultations; assessing risks/benefits; and working with non-medical IM practitioners.

Exploring the effectiveness of a patient-tailored integrative oncology program on emotional distress during chemotherapy for localized cancer.

Study Objective: There is a need to explore how patient-tailored integrative oncology (IO) programs reduce emotional distress. This study set out to bridge the IO research gap between non-specific, quality of life-related and specific emotional-related concerns in chemotherapy-treated patients.

Methods: This pragmatic, prospective and preference-controlled study examined patients attending an integrative-physician consultation and weekly IO treatments during adjuvant/neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for localized cancer.

Impact of a combined integrative oncology and palliative care program on quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.

Many oncology centers provide integrative oncology (IO) care, many within palliative care settings. The primary study objective was to examine the impact of IO-palliative patient-tailored program on quality of life (QoL) among patients with advanced cancer. In this pragmatic prospective controlled study, patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy/palliative care were referred by their oncology healthcare providers to an integrative physician (IP) consultation and weekly IO treatments.

Being in touch: narrative assessment of patients receiving online integrative oncology treatments during COVID-19.

Objective: We examined the qualitative impact of an online integrative oncology (IO) treatment program, designed in response to the restrictions created by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Patients undergoing chemotherapy were seen by an integrative physician (IP), together co-designing an IO treatment program of ≥ 6 weekly treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life (QoL). IO practitioners guided patients and their caregivers online in self-treatment with manual/touch, movement, and/or mind-body modalities.

Effects of a patient-tailored integrative oncology intervention in the relief of pain in palliative and supportive cancer care.

Context And Objectives: The present study examined the impact of an integrative oncology treatment program in the relief of pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or palliative care.

Methods: In this pragmatic prospective controlled study, patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or palliative care were referred by their oncology healthcare providers to an integrative physician (IP) consultation, followed by weekly integrative treatments. Patients attending ≥ 4 sessions during the first 6 weeks of the study were considered to be highly adherent to integrative care (AIC).