Use of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Among Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme Seen at a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive and lethal tumors, with a median survival of 12-15 months. Many patients use complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) therapies to supplement their cancer treatment. Objective: To determine the prevalence of CIM use and identify the most frequently used types of CIM in a cohort of patients with GBM seen at a tertiary care medical center in the United States. Methods: An anonymous survey was mailed through the US Postal Service from August 1, 2019, through February 21, 2020, to patients with GBM. Results: A total of 346 surveys were mailed, and 146 responses (42%) were received. The median age of respondents was 61 years (range, 52-68 years), and 85 (58%) were male. Most patients had undergone surgery (90%), chemotherapy (96%), and radiotherapy (95%). The median time from diagnosis of GBM to survey participation was 18 months (range, 12-31 months). Most respondents (81%) used some form of CIM, most frequently meditation (22%), relaxation and other stress management techniques (19%), chiropractic therapy (16%), and acupuncture (12%). Compared with men, women more commonly meditated (32% vs 16%; P = .046) and practiced yoga (20% vs 6%; P = .04). We observed age-based differences, with younger patients more commonly meditating, practicing relaxation and stress management techniques, and receiving chiropractic therapy (P < .05 for all). Conclusions: Providers should encourage patients with GBM to discuss their interest in CIM therapies and guide them to evidence-based treatments that may help improve their quality of life.

Outcomes of a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program for Family Caregivers of Individuals With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a single-arm prospective pilot study examining the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) intervention among family caregivers (FCGs) of individuals with head and neck cancer (HNC). SAMPLE & SETTING: This study was conducted with 26 FCGs of individuals with HNC receiving chemotherapy in the medical oncology clinic at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. METHODS & VARIABLES: The SMART intervention consisted of in-person and online components. Measurements included feasibility, acceptability, self-compassion, resilience, perceived stress, anxiety, and mindfulness. RESULTS: Results support acceptability of the SMART program and provide recommendations to improve feasibility. Data indicate significant improvements in self-compassion (p = 0.03) and anxiety (p = 0.02), with positive trends for resilience, stress, and mindfulness. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This study warrants further research with larger, more diverse samples testing the efficacy of the program, its mechanism of action, and potential synergistic effects among individuals receiving oncology care, FCGs, and nurses.

Family-Based Mindful Eating Intervention in Adolescents with Obesity: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Mindfulness has gained attention in the treatment of obesity. However, there is a paucity of data on family-based training in mindful eating in children. The objective of this pilot randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a family-based mindful eating intervention (MEI) in adolescents with obesity, and to compare the efficacy of the MEI versus standard dietary counseling (SDC) for decreasing weight and improving cardiometabolic risk markers. Twenty-two adolescents (age 14.5⁻17.9 years) and parent pairs were randomized to the MEI or SDC. The MEI was administered in four 90-min sessions over 10 weeks and SDC was provided at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Despite the requirement of more frequent visits with the MEI, adolescents and parents attended 100% of the sessions and there were no dropouts in that group. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased in the SDC group, but not in the MEI group. Adolescents receiving the MEI demonstrated an increase in awareness at 24 weeks (p = 0.01) and a decrease in distraction during eating at 12 weeks (p = 0.04), when compared with the SDC group. The family-based MEI showed feasibility and acceptability in adolescents with obesity. Future studies with more intense therapy and larger sample sizes are warranted to examine the role of mindful eating in treating pediatric obesity.