Study shows: Integration of holistic health services improves chances of survival for breast cancer patients - Journal of Oncology - Berlin

Study shows: Integration of holistic health services improves chances of survival for breast cancer patients - Journal of Oncology - Berlin

Breast cancer patients have a higher chance of survival at facilities with integrative health services

A new study in the Journal of Oncology shows that breast cancer patients treated at hospitals and health systems that both educate patients and provide integrative health services have a better chance of survival than those treated at facilities with few of these resources. Integrative health services include complementary and lifestyle therapies such as nutritional and exercise counseling, as well as medical cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.

The study found that access to basic integrative health services not only supports a higher quality of life but also increases patients' chances of survival. These are important findings that should encourage hospitals and oncologists to support a holistic approach to cancer treatment.

Wayne Jonas, MD, co-author of the study and senior director of integrative health programs at the Samueli Foundation, emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to cancer care.

Researchers analyzed data from 4,815 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients treated in 2013 and 2014. Oncologists were asked about their institutions' efforts to educate patients and support 12 complementary and lifestyle therapies. Survey responses from 103 oncologists at 103 institutions were used for the study.

Results showed that patients treated at facilities that had a low score on integrative health services were up to three times more likely to survive over a five-year period compared to patients treated at low-scoring facilities.

The facility assessment was based on support for 12 types of complementary and lifestyle therapies, including nutritional counseling, exercise counseling, patient support groups, spiritual offerings, psycho-oncology support, massage, meditation or mindfulness, yoga, acupuncture or acupressure, music and art therapy, Reiki and Tai Chi or Qi Gong. All patients also received conventional medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Facilities with higher levels of investment often offered a core offering of six therapies: nutritional counseling, exercise counseling, patient support groups, spiritual offerings, meditation/mindfulness, and psycho-oncology support.

The study authors identified ways health care organizations could improve their integration of holistic health services. This includes:

• Patienten durch Printmaterialien, Websites und persönliche Gespräche über ergänzende Therapien informieren.
• Zugang zu diesen Therapien vor Ort ermöglichen, wie Ernährungs- und Bewegungsberatung sowie psycho-onkologische Unterstützung, und für andere Therapien (Patienten-Supportgruppen, spirituelle Angebote und Meditation) auf eine externe Einrichtung verweisen.
• Die Kosten für die angebotenen Therapien vor Ort abdecken.
• Die Besetzung eines Ernährungsberaters, Bewegungsberaters/Physiotherapeuten, Sozialarbeiters und Psychologen vor Ort sicherstellen.

The authors noted that their study has limitations due to unaccounted for patient variables that may influence treatment outcomes. They recommend replication of the study with a larger sample and additional research to validate the integrative health care rating system used.

Source: The Reis Group