title: The kitchen as therapy: qualitative assessment of an integrative cuisine workshop for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and functional difficulties in preparing and eating meals. We conducted a qualitative assessment of an integrative cuisine workshop program designed for patients receiving chemotherapy, examining the effects of the program on patient-reported GI symptoms and nutritional challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were referred to a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM)-trained physician for consultation, followed by a patient-tailored treatment program. Patients with GI-related symptoms and nutritional concerns were offered a two-session integrative cuisine workshop program. The effects of the workshops were examined using inductive and deductive qualitative research methodologies. Patient narratives, as recorded in the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCAW) study tool, and electronic medical files were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 125 patients referred to the integrative cuisine program, 86 participated in at least one workshop. Participants and non-participants had similar demographic and disease-related characteristics, as well as quality-of-life (QOL)-related concerns. Inductive analysis suggested that participation in the workshops was helpful in developing social relationships, providing emotional support, and enhancing spirituality and nutritional awareness. Implementing the recommended changes at home led to improved QOL-related outcomes. The predominant themes derived from deductive analysis were the implementation of dietary changes and improved gastrointestinal and emotional issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy-treated patients participating in an integrative cuisine workshop program showed improved QOL outcomes, specifically GI and emotional-related symptoms, and a reduction in nutritional and functional concerns. Increased knowledge and awareness of nutrition and supplement use ultimately resulted in implementation of the CIM recommendations by patients at home.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il.|Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il.|Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il.|The Oncology Service, Lin Medical Center, 35 Rothschild St., Haifa, Israel. eranben@netvision.net.il.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Western Galilee Academic College, Galilee, Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keshet
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.|Occupational Therapy Service, Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbar Miller
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Shahbar
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.|Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal Livne
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aharonson
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preis
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.|The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Agour
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Integrative Surgery Service, B'nai Zion Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oncology Program, The Oncology Service and Lin Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.|Tal Center for Integrative Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Chemotherapy; Herbal medicine; Integrative medicine; Nutrition; Quality-of-life (QOL)