Sensing the lightness: a narrative analysis of an integrative medicine program for healthcare providers in the COVID-19 department

Objectives There is limited research addressing physical and emotional exhaustion among healthcare providers (HCPs) in COVID-19 departments. We examined the impact of an integrative medicine (IM) intervention for HCPs working in isolated COVID-19 in-patient departments, addressing concerns and wellbeing. Methods HCPs working in 3 isolated COVID-19 in-patient departments underwent 40-minute IM treatment sessions (including acupuncture, manual-movement and/or mind-body modalities) provided by integrative oncology practitioners. The MYCAW (Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being) questionnaire was used to address the two leading concerns and post-treatment reflections and narrative. Data were qualitatively analyzed using ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding. Results A total of 181 HCPs underwent 305 IM treatments. Narrative themes focused on physical symptoms (primarily pain and fatigue) and emotional concerns, including perceived communication barriers with patients; and reflections on wellbeing and insights following IM treatments. HCPs reported feeling a sense of "relief" which was likely related to the 3 main effects of the IM intervention: a sense of "being cared for" and treated; experiencing emotional, sometimes spiritual effects of the treatment; and the feeling of relaxation, combined with the relief of pain. Qualitative analysis identified clusters of emotional and spiritual-related keywords such as "calming", "release", "relaxation” and “disengagement” following the first IM session (119 of 181 narratives, 65.7%). Conclusions HCPs working in isolated COVID-19 departments reported improved wellbeing and the addressing of their concerns following IM treatment sessions provided during their work shift. Further research is needed to explore the impact of IM on HCPs burnout and resilience in palliative care settings.

Analysis of Changes in Cancer-Related Fatigue of Breast Cancer Patients Receiving an Integrative Medicine Program

Introduction: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) occurs frequently in breast cancer patients. The aim of this real-world study was to analyze the longitudinal changes of CRF in breast cancer patients receiving an integrative medicine program, which includes the application of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) and Viscum album L. (VA) extracts. Methods: All data were collected from the clinical register of the Network Oncology of a German certified breast cancer center of the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe (GKH). Primary breast cancer patients, treated upon initial diagnosis with integrated NPIs, comprising art and exercise therapy, nursing interventions, and educational components, during their hospital stay, and who had answered the German Cancer-Fatigue Scale (CFS-D) questionnaire at first diagnosis and 12 months later, were included. The associations between NPIs and CFS-D changes were analyzed with adjusted multivariable regression analyses, considering received treatment regimens and demographic variables, using the software R. Results: 231 female breast cancer patients of all tumor stages were evaluated. While chemotherapy exhibited significant severe deterioration, add-on VA applications seem to partially mitigate this impairment on CRF. 36 separate multivariable regression analyses for all NPIs showed that in particular significant associations between CFS-D improvements and the interventions nursing compresses (6 point change; P = .0002; R² = 28%) or elaborate consultations and life review (ECLR) (4 point change; P = .0002; R² = 25%) were observed. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients benefit from a hospital-based integrative medicine program. To alleviate fatigue symptoms during oncological therapy, an expansion of this concept should be developed in the future.

Pediatric Integrative Medicine in Academia: Stanford Children’s Experience

Pediatric integrative medicine is an emerging field which, to date, has not been described in detail in academic medical centers in the United States. Early research of pediatric integrative medicine modalities shows promise for the treatment of common pediatric conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, acute and chronic pain, headache, and allergy, among others. In light of the growing prevalence of pediatric illnesses and patient complexity, it is crucial to emphasize the patient’s overall well-being. As academic centers around the world start to develop pediatric integrative medicine programs, the aim of this manuscript is to briefly highlight evidence of effective integrative treatments in pediatric subspecialties, to describe the establishment of our integrative medicine program, to summarize its early efforts, and to discuss potential barriers and keys to success.