e21629 Background: Integrative medicine uses complementary health approaches (CHAs) to improve wellness. Many patients use CHAs to manage acute and late toxicities of radiotherapy (RT). However, few patients disclose CHA use to their radiation oncologist. Patients acknowledge a need for improved education on CHAs and have shown interest in attending a hospital-based educational program. Here we assess the feasibility of implementing such a program and the associated patient-reported outcomes, including intention to disclose CHA use and patient satisfaction. Methods: A structured curriculum was designed as a collaboration between an academic institution’s integrative medicine center and radiation oncology department. Four one-hour lectures covered topics of meditation, yoga, massage therapy, and nutrition, each led by a topic expert. Lectures included didactic and interactive components. Individuals over age 18 and actively receiving RT were recruited by nurses, radiation therapists, and a designated study team member in the waiting room. Pre- and post-lecture surveys were used to assess patient characteristics, CHA use disclosure, satisfaction, and qualitative feedback. Results: 43 surveys were completed. The patient sample was 47% female, median age 63. The majority had breast or prostate cancer (60%). Of about 100 patients receiving RT each day, 5 to 7 attended each lecture. 36% of participants had disclosed their use of CHAs before the lecture; 67% intended to disclose their use after the lecture. 98% felt the lecture enhanced their patient experience with a median agreement of 8 on a 9-point Likert scale. Conclusions: This program is the first to increase satisfaction and CHA use disclosure. Patients expressed interest in learning simple, convenient, and effective tools to abate acute toxicities, rather than focus on chronic symptoms of remission and recovery. However, patient recruitment could not be effectively integrated into the clinical workflow. Attendance was limited by timing, transportation, and performance status. To increase reach and minimize cost, we suggest investigating a program that is integrated into the clinic visit or available in an online format.
Patient-Preferred Conditions for Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes in the Radiation Oncology Outpatient Setting: Towards Improving Quality of Care
