title: The role of optimal healing environments in patients undergoing cancer treatment: clinical research protocol guidelines.
abstract: Integrative cancer care (ICC) is the treatment of patients with cancer, under physician supervision, with appropriate conventional treatments in a healing context based on insights from research on nutrition, biochemistry, exercise, and psycho-oncology. It uses validated techniques and practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and strategies for enhancing treatment and side-effect management such as chronomodulated chemotherapy, therapies to reduce treatment resistance, and innovative assessments for individualizing treatment plans. The elements of ICC align well with the concepts of optimal healing environments (OHE). Expectations of well-being are fostered; transformative self-care practices are common therapeutic tools; development of healing presence among staff and therapeutic alliances with patients are emphasized; instruction in health-promoting behavior is standard; and collaborative integration of CAM in the practice is typical. Based on the authors' clinical experience, an OHE for patients with cancer is described and suggestions for meaningful research are identified.
authors.affiliation: Block Medical Center, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. Kblock@blockmedical.com
authors.forename: Keith I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gyllenhaal
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States