Effects of integrative medicine on pain and anxiety among oncology inpatients.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have investigated the effectiveness of integrative medicine (IM) therapies on pain and anxiety among oncology inpatients.


METHODS
Retrospective data obtained from electronic medical records identified patients with an oncology International Classification of Diseases-9 code who were admitted to a large Midwestern hospital between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2012. Outcomes were change in patient-reported pain and anxiety, rated before and after individual IM treatment sessions, using a numeric scale (0-10).


RESULTS
Of 10948 hospital admissions over the study period, 1833 (17%) included IM therapy. Older patients had reduced odds of receiving any IM therapy (odds ratio [OR]: 0.97, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.96 to 0.98) and females had 63% (OR: 1.63, 95% CI = 1.38 to 1.92) higher odds of receiving any IM therapy compared with males. Moderate (OR: 1.97, 95% CI = 1.61 to 2.41), major (OR: 3.54, 95% CI = 2.88 to 4.35), and extreme (OR: 5.96, 95% CI = 4.71 to 7.56) illness severity were significantly associated with higher odds of receiving IM therapy compared with admissions of minor illness severity. After receiving IM therapy, patients averaged a 46.9% (95% CI = 45.1% to 48.6%, P <.001) reduction in pain and a 56.1% (95% CI = 54.3% to 58.0%, P <.001) reduction in anxiety. Bodywork and traditional Chinese Medicine therapies were most effective for reducing pain, while no significant differences among therapies for reducing anxiety were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
IM services to oncology inpatients resulted in substantial decreases in pain and anxiety. Observational studies using electronic medical records provide unique information about real-world utilization of IM. Future studies are warranted and should explore potential synergy of opioid analgesics and IM therapy for pain control.
Integrative Health Research Center, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN (JRJ, KHG, JAD); Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN (DJC); Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (MDF). Jill.Johnson3@allina.com.
Jill R
JR
Johnson
Integrative Health Research Center, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN (JRJ, KHG, JAD); Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN (DJC); Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (MDF).
Daniel J
DJ
Crespin
Integrative Health Research Center, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN (JRJ, KHG, JAD); Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN (DJC); Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (MDF).
Kristen H
KH
Griffin
Integrative Health Research Center, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN (JRJ, KHG, JAD); Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN (DJC); Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (MDF).
Michael D
MD
Finch
Integrative Health Research Center, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN (JRJ, KHG, JAD); Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN (DJC); Medical Industry Leadership Institute, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (MDF).
Jeffery A
JA
Dusek
D019050:Acupressure; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors