Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study

Abstract Purpose Many cancer patients wish for complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) consultations led by their oncology physician. Within the KOKON‐KTO study, oncology physicians in the intervention group were trained in a blended learning to provide CIM consultations to their cancer patient...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alizé A. Rogge, Stefanie M. Helmer, Katja Icke, Claudia M. Witt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70008
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850054330116210688
author Alizé A. Rogge
Stefanie M. Helmer
Katja Icke
Claudia M. Witt
author_facet Alizé A. Rogge
Stefanie M. Helmer
Katja Icke
Claudia M. Witt
author_sort Alizé A. Rogge
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose Many cancer patients wish for complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) consultations led by their oncology physician. Within the KOKON‐KTO study, oncology physicians in the intervention group were trained in a blended learning to provide CIM consultations to their cancer patients in addition to distributing a leaflet about CIM websites. Control oncology physicians only distributed the leaflet. The training showed positive effects on the patient‐level. As of now, no consistent evidence exists on the long‐term effects of such one‐time‐only CIM consultation during cancer treatment. Methods In the KOKON‐KTO follow‐up study, cancer patients previously participating in the KOKON‐KTO study (intervention group:IG and control group: CG) received, at least 24 months later, a follow‐up questionnaire by post, evaluating long‐term effects of the KOKON‐KTO consultation using the measures provided in the original study (patient‐physician communication (EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU2), satisfaction with cancer treatment (PS‐CaTE), CIM disclosure with healthcare provider (HCP), and need for CIM consultation during cancer therapy). Results In total, 102 cancer patients participated in the follow‐up study (IG n = 62; CG n = 40). The overall reponse rate was around 36% (IG: 48.4%; CG: 23.7%). In the follow‐up study, differences between groups had increased and were still shown (EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU26, 0–100 point scale, ≥10‐point‐group difference) in some subscales: patient's active behavior (in means; IG:73.6 (95% CI, 63.8–83.5); CG:61.1 (95% CI, 52.4–69.8)); clinician‐patient relationship (IG:80.9 (95% CI, 71.8–90.0); CG:68.7 (95% CI, 59.3–78.0)). For some outcomes, differences decreased over time (e.g., EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU26 subscales “takes into account patient's preference” and “corrects misunderstandings”). More patients in the CG used CIM without oncology physicians' knowledge (IG: 13.7%, CG: 24.0%). Conclusion This study presents first findings that one‐time‐only CIM consultations may enhance patient‐physican relationship and CIM disclosure long‐term. To further support cancer patients' in their wish for CIM consultations, training programs should provide oncology physicians with CIM competencies for different cancer stages including cancer survivors.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d66dfca01594b5a81d623ad0a264686
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-7634
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Cancer Medicine
spelling doaj-art-8d66dfca01594b5a81d623ad0a2646862025-08-20T02:52:17ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342024-07-011314n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70008Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO studyAlizé A. Rogge0Stefanie M. Helmer1Katja Icke2Claudia M. Witt3Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Center for Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin GermanyInstitute of Health and Nursing Science Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin GermanyInstitute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin GermanyInstitute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin GermanyAbstract Purpose Many cancer patients wish for complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) consultations led by their oncology physician. Within the KOKON‐KTO study, oncology physicians in the intervention group were trained in a blended learning to provide CIM consultations to their cancer patients in addition to distributing a leaflet about CIM websites. Control oncology physicians only distributed the leaflet. The training showed positive effects on the patient‐level. As of now, no consistent evidence exists on the long‐term effects of such one‐time‐only CIM consultation during cancer treatment. Methods In the KOKON‐KTO follow‐up study, cancer patients previously participating in the KOKON‐KTO study (intervention group:IG and control group: CG) received, at least 24 months later, a follow‐up questionnaire by post, evaluating long‐term effects of the KOKON‐KTO consultation using the measures provided in the original study (patient‐physician communication (EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU2), satisfaction with cancer treatment (PS‐CaTE), CIM disclosure with healthcare provider (HCP), and need for CIM consultation during cancer therapy). Results In total, 102 cancer patients participated in the follow‐up study (IG n = 62; CG n = 40). The overall reponse rate was around 36% (IG: 48.4%; CG: 23.7%). In the follow‐up study, differences between groups had increased and were still shown (EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU26, 0–100 point scale, ≥10‐point‐group difference) in some subscales: patient's active behavior (in means; IG:73.6 (95% CI, 63.8–83.5); CG:61.1 (95% CI, 52.4–69.8)); clinician‐patient relationship (IG:80.9 (95% CI, 71.8–90.0); CG:68.7 (95% CI, 59.3–78.0)). For some outcomes, differences decreased over time (e.g., EORTC‐QLQ‐COMU26 subscales “takes into account patient's preference” and “corrects misunderstandings”). More patients in the CG used CIM without oncology physicians' knowledge (IG: 13.7%, CG: 24.0%). Conclusion This study presents first findings that one‐time‐only CIM consultations may enhance patient‐physican relationship and CIM disclosure long‐term. To further support cancer patients' in their wish for CIM consultations, training programs should provide oncology physicians with CIM competencies for different cancer stages including cancer survivors.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70008cancerfollow‐up studiesintegrative oncologyphysician‐patient communication
spellingShingle Alizé A. Rogge
Stefanie M. Helmer
Katja Icke
Claudia M. Witt
Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
Cancer Medicine
cancer
follow‐up studies
integrative oncology
physician‐patient communication
title Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
title_full Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
title_fullStr Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
title_short Effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient‐reported outcomes: 2‐year follow‐up of the multi‐center, cluster‐randomized KOKON‐KTO study
title_sort effects of training oncology physicians advising patients on complementary and integrative therapies on patient reported outcomes 2 year follow up of the multi center cluster randomized kokon kto study
topic cancer
follow‐up studies
integrative oncology
physician‐patient communication
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70008
work_keys_str_mv AT alizearogge effectsoftrainingoncologyphysiciansadvisingpatientsoncomplementaryandintegrativetherapiesonpatientreportedoutcomes2yearfollowupofthemulticenterclusterrandomizedkokonktostudy
AT stefaniemhelmer effectsoftrainingoncologyphysiciansadvisingpatientsoncomplementaryandintegrativetherapiesonpatientreportedoutcomes2yearfollowupofthemulticenterclusterrandomizedkokonktostudy
AT katjaicke effectsoftrainingoncologyphysiciansadvisingpatientsoncomplementaryandintegrativetherapiesonpatientreportedoutcomes2yearfollowupofthemulticenterclusterrandomizedkokonktostudy
AT claudiamwitt effectsoftrainingoncologyphysiciansadvisingpatientsoncomplementaryandintegrativetherapiesonpatientreportedoutcomes2yearfollowupofthemulticenterclusterrandomizedkokonktostudy