Canadian integrative oncology research priorities: results of a consensus-building process.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, many diverse models of integrative oncology care have emerged in response to the growing number of cancer patients who combine complementary therapies with their conventional medical treatments. The increasing interest in integrative oncology emphasizes the need to engage stakeholders and to work toward consensus on research priorities and a collaborative research agenda. The Integrative Canadian Oncology Research Initiative initiated a consensus-building process to meet that need and to develop an action plan that will implement a Canadian research agenda. METHODS: A two-day consensus workshop was held after completion of a Delphi survey and stakeholder interviews. RESULTS: FIVE INTERRELATED PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE FOUNDATION FOR A CANADIAN RESEARCH AGENDA: EffectivenessSafetyResource and health services utilizationKnowledge translationDeveloping integrative oncology models Research is needed within each priority area from a range of different perspectives (for example, patient, practitioner, health system) and in a way that reflects a continuum of integration from the addition of a single complementary intervention within conventional cancer care to systemic change. Strategies to implement a Canadian integrative oncology research agenda were identified, and working groups are actively developing projects in line with those strategic areas. Of note is the intention to develop a national network for integrative oncology research and knowledge translation. CONCLUSIONS: The identified research priorities reflect the needs and perspectives of a spectrum of integrative oncology stakeholders. Ongoing stakeholder consultation, including engagement from new stakeholders, is needed to ensure appropriate uptake and implementation of a Canadian research agenda.

Interactions of natural health products with biomedical cancer treatments.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including the ingestion of natural health products (NHPS), is common among cancer patients. Of concern to clinicians and patients alike is the possibility that cam, used concurrently with biomedical therapy, may interact poorly with that therapy, especially chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Proponents of NHPS argue that taking such products can help to reduce the side effects of conventional therapy and can provide an additional anticancer effect. However, opponents insist that the potential for harm is too great to warrant the risk of concurrent administration. There are promising examples of specific NHPS that may provide patient benefit even when given in close proximity both to chemotherapy and to radiotherapy, but unfortunately, in part because of a rather limited evidence base, caution is warranted when considering the issue of therapeutic interactions. Strategic application of NHPS before or after conventional therapy may be considered; however, concurrent application should be avoided as a general principle until further evidence is available regarding specific interactions.

An international survey of undergraduate medical education in palliative medicine.

A 9-item mail survey dealing with availability and characteristics of undergraduate medical education programs in palliative medicine was sent to all medical schools in Canada (16) and the United Kingdom (UK) (30), and 129 randomly selected medical schools in the United States (US) and Western Europe. The overall response rate was 117/175 (67%). The highest percentage of mandatory (required by the university) rotations in palliative medicine was in the UK medical schools (14/22, 64%). Considerably lower numbers were obtained from the other countries: US; 4/37, 11%, Canada; 2/14, 14%, and Western Europe; 8/43, 19% (P = 0.001). Elective rotations in palliative medicine were more readily available in the UK; 18/22, 82% and Canada; 10/14, 71%, compared with the US; 23/37, 62%, and Western Europe; 13/43, 30% (P=0.001). Seventy-two percent (13/18) of UK, 70% (7/10) of Canadian, 59% (16/27) of US, and 9/30 (30%) of Western European medical schools provide educational reading material in palliative medicine (P = 0.014). Case-based learning in small groups and small group discussion were favored by the UK, 14/22 (63%) and 17/22 (77%), respectively, and Canadian medical schools, 8/14 (57%) and 8/14 (57%), respectively (P = 0.176). The number of universities with academic faculty positions for palliative medicine and the median number of positions for the countries were as follows-Canada 8/13 (62%) and 2; UK 12/22 (55%) and 1; US 5/36 (14%) and 1; and Western Europe 9/24 (21%) and 1, respectively (P = 0.001). Besides the UK, mandatory (required) rotations in undergraduate palliative medicine education are lacking in Canadian, US, and Western European medical schools. The median number of 1 academic faculty member per responding medical school is discouraging. In order for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in palliative medicine to improve, the number of both educational programs and faculty members will need to be increased.

A survey of mouth pain and dryness in patients with advanced cancer.

An 11-item face-to-face survey was conducted in 99 consecutive patients with advanced cancer to determine the prevalence, intensity, reporting and treatment, presumed cause(s), and importance of mouth pain and dryness. Sixteen of the 99 patients (16%) reported experiencing mouth pain at a mean intensity corresponding to 5.5 +/- SD 2.21 on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) numerical scale, and 88 (88%) patients reported dry mouth at a mean intensity corresponding to 6.2 +/- SD 2.21. Nine (56%) of the 16 patients with mouth pain and 39 (44%) of the 88 patients with mouth dryness reported these symptoms to their attending physician(s). Sixty-nine percent (27/39) of patients who reported having a dry mouth were advised by their physician(s) to pursue one or more treatments. The most common treatments recommended (and frequencies) were drinking water/taking sips of fluid (13), gargling with bicarbonate mouthwash (4), using an artificial saliva spray (4), and using an oral fungal suspension for thrush (4). The most common findings on oral examination included: possible thrush (53 patients), upper and lower dentures (33 patients), and multiple dental restorations (23 patients). The causes most frequently assumed to be responsible were ill-fitting dentures for mouth pain, and medications and possible oral fungal infections for mouth dryness. The mean values given for the importance of the symptoms of mouth pain and dryness relative to other symptoms or problems experienced by the patients were 4.4 +/- SD 1.84 and 3.6 +/- SD 1.67, respectively, on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (not important) to 7 (great importance). Mouth dryness was more frequently reported than mouth pain. The mean rating for the intensity of mouth pain was higher than that for mouth dryness, although both were of moderate importance to patients relative to other symptoms or problems experienced at the time. Patients tended to underreport mouth pain and dryness, and physicians tended to address such complaints inadequately.

Sedation for delirium and other symptoms in terminally ill patients in Edmonton.

The use of sedation and the management of delirium and other difficult symptoms in terminally ill patients in Edmonton has been reported previously. The focus of this study was to assess the prevalence in the Edmonton region of difficult symptoms requiring sedation at the end of life. Data were collected for 50 consecutive patients at each of (a) the tertiary palliative care unit, (b) the consulting palliative care program at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (acute care), and (c) three hospice inpatient units in the city. Patients on the tertiary palliative care unit were significantly younger. Assessments confirmed the more problematic physical and psychosocial issues of patients in the tertiary palliative care unit. These patients had more difficult pain syndromes and required significantly higher doses of daily opioids. Approximately 80% of patients in all three settings developed delirium prior to death. Pharmacological management of this problem was needed by 40% in the acute care setting, and by 80% in the tertiary palliative care unit. The patients sedated varied from 4% in the hospice setting to 10% in the tertiary palliative care unit. Of the 150 patients, nine were sedated for delirium, one for dyspnea. The prevalence of delirium and other symptoms requiring sedation in our area is relatively low compared to others reported in the literature. Demographic variability between the three Edmonton settings highlights the need for caution in comparing results of different palliative care groups. It is possible that some variability in the use of sedation internationally is due to cultural differences. The infrequent deliberate use of sedation in Edmonton suggests that improved management has resulted in fewer distressing symptoms at the end of life. This is of benefit to patients and to family members who are with them during this time.

Palliative management of brain metastases.

The development of brain metastases in patients with advanced cancer is associated with increased morbidity and diminished longevity. Palliative treatment modalities focus predominantly on improving quality of life. Well-established beneficial treatments include the use of corticosteroids, radiotherapy, and surgery. Management issues that require further exploration and clarification include the dosages of glucocorticoids, the prophylactic use of anticonvulsants and the indications for radiosurgery.

Access to palliative medicine training for Canadian family medicine residents.

The authors conducted a nine-item mail questionnaire of the 16 Canadian family medicine teaching programme directors to determine the accessibility and operation of palliative care education for their respective family medicine residents. All 16 faculties of medicine responded (100%). The survey revealed that while all universities offer elective time in palliative care only five out of 16 (31%) have a mandatory rotation. The median durations of the mandatory and elective rotations are limited to two and three-and-a-half weeks, respectively. The majority of the universities offer formal lectures in palliative care (12/16, 75%) and educational reading material (13/16, 81%), with the main format in 14/16 (87%) of the sites being case-based learning. The two most common sites for teaching to occur for the residents are the community/outpatient environment and an acute palliative care unit. Fifty-six per cent (9/16) of the universities have designated faculty positions for palliative medicine with a median number of two positions per site. Only one centre offers a specific palliative medicine examination during the rotation. Feedback from the residents regarding their respective palliative medicine programmes were positive overall. Findings from our survey indicate an ongoing need for improved education in palliative medicine at the postgraduate level.

The use of complementary medications by cancer patients attending an outpatient pain and symptom clinic.

Complementary medications appear to be gaining popularity among cancer patients. When we surveyed 143 advanced cancer patients attending an outpatient pain and symptom clinic at a regional cancer centre as to their use of complementary medications and nutritional supplements, we found 37% (53/143) to be making use of complementary medications. Users tended to be younger (mean age 53.3 years) and have a preference for purchase from health stores, with 61% of complementary medications being bought there. Health store staff were the primary recommenders for both men and women and especially for those over 60 years of age. Of the 197 complementary medications purchased, 78 (39.6%) were herbs, 67 (32.5%) were vitamins, 13 (6.6%) were minerals, 21 (10.7%) were other medications including shark cartilage, and 21 (10.7%) could not be identified. Both anticancer effect and the promotion of well-being were prominent among the stated reasons for using these medications.

Assessment and knowledge in palliative care in second year family medicine residents.

Inadequate physician knowledge, particularly in areas of pain assessment and use of analgesics, has been identified as a major factor contributing to poor pain management in cancer patients. In most medical schools, teaching in Palliative Care at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is limited or nonexistent. Baseline knowledge and changes in knowledge in areas relevant to Palliative Care were assessed by the use of 2 16-question examinations (Exams A and B) in 78 second-year Family Medicine Residents from the University of Alberta Family Medicine Residency Program. The residents participated in a two-week rotation on the Acute Palliative Care Unit at the Edmonton General Hospital or Grey Nuns Community Health Centre between September 1991 and February 1996. The residents were randomly assigned on their first day (Time 1) to complete either Exam A or B and were subsequently crossed over on their final day of the rotation to complete the alternate Exam (Time 2). Six domains were represented in the Exams as follows: pain assessment, opioid use, adjuvant medications, delirium, urinary catheterization, and hydration. Improvements were noted in the mean percentage results in Time 2 compared with Time 1 for Exams A, B, and A and B combined. Mean global percentage results were 53 +/- 15 versus 73 +/- 13 (p < 0.001) at Times 1 and 2, respectively. There were significant improvements for domains in Time 2 compared to Time 1 (p < or = 0.05) for combined A and B Exam except for urinary catheterization. Despite these documented improvements in scores, serious deficiencies were identified particularly in the areas of pain assessment and opioid use, namely opioid sude effects and issues involving dependence, addiction, and tolerance. Examinations, such as the two used in this study, can be a useful aid in assessing physician knowledge in addition to structuring teaching in Palliative Care. Examination content will require updating as knowledge in Palliative Care evolves.

Successful management of multiple enterocutaneous fistulas in a patient with metastatic colon cancer.

Enterocutaneous fistula development is not uncommon in patients with advanced cancer and can be very challenging to manage. The authors present a case study of a patient with multiple enterocutaneous fistulas that developed in the setting of metastatic colon cancer. Assessment methods and interventions that permitted successful management are discussed with emphasis on the value of multidisciplinary care.