Browsing by Subject "Integrative oncology"

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    Barriers and Facilitators to Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Intervention during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis
    (Taylor & Francis, 2023) Harvey, Brianna I.; Youngblood, Shari M.; Kleckner, Amber S.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Patients undergoing chemotherapy are at risk for malnutrition and a high symptom burden, and nutritional interventions can address clinical and supportive care outcomes. Herein, we identified barriers and facilitators to adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) intervention during chemotherapy. Patients with cancer (any type) who were undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled into a clinical trial testing the effects of an 8-week MedDiet intervention on cancer-related fatigue. Participants were randomized 2:1, MedDiet:control. The intervention entailed food provision, education, a cookbook, a session with a nutritionist, and weekly check-ins. Post-intervention, all participants completed semi-structured exit interviews. The interviews were transcribed and open coding was conducted to describe the facilitators and barriers to MedDiet adherence. Participants (n=29, n=21 in the intervention group) were 51.0±15.1 years old and 93.1% had breast cancer. Educational materials and convenient food delivery were the highest reported facilitators. Many patients offered that changing their diet gave a sense of control and empowerment. Barriers to adherence were that the frozen food was unappetizing, participants’ (or their spouse/children’s) food preferences did not align with the MedDiet, and chemotherapy-induced side effects that prevented food consumption (e.g., mouth sores, lack of appetite). This project helps understand the patient experience within nutritional interventions to optimize dietary programs during chemotherapy treatment.
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    Characteristics and Challenges of Providing Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in Oncology Treatment: Report of Survey Data and Experience of Five Unique Clinical Settings
    (Sage, 2024) Veleber, Susan; Cohen, Misha Ruth; Weitzman, Matthew; Maimon, Yair; Adamo, Christine A.; Siman, Jonathan; Lu, Weidong; Sajdyk, Tammy; Stone, Jennifer A. M.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Acupuncture is an integrative therapy with strong evidence to support its use in the oncology setting, yet barriers exist for implementation into conventional medical clinics. Though acupuncture is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for oncology, there is little data in the literature showing how acupuncture and other related therapies, including herbal medicine are successfully implemented in some oncology clinics, while others experience barriers to care. To characterize the current use of acupuncture (ACU) and herbal medicine (HM) in oncology clinics, we collected general demographic and usage data from 5 example clinics. In addition, to better understand the barriers faced by ACU and HM clinics in implementing acupuncture as a treatment modality, a survey was deployed to 2320 members of the Society for Integrative Oncology. This article examines the characteristics of oncology settings around the world, and shares data from the survey on the use of these therapies in the field of oncology. The primary barrier to acupuncture care, as reported by providers, was cost. With just under 70% of the oncologists reporting it as the most important obstacle. Additional barriers to implementation included concerns about competency and training, accessibility and safety of herbal medicine during treatment. Though acupuncture is being incorporated into more conventional oncology settings, organized strategies for implementation involving payers and policymakers is needed.