title: Mind-body medicine and lifestyle modification in supportive cancer care: A cohort study on a day care clinic program for cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed an integrative day care clinic program for cancer patients focusing on mind-body techniques and health-promoting lifestyle modification (7-hour once-per-week group sessions over 12 weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study design with a waiting group was implemented. Outcome parameters were assessed at the beginning, at the end of the active program, and at a 6-month follow-up. Patients waiting >4 and <12 weeks before treatment start were allocated to the waiting group and additionally assessed at the start of their day care program. Outcome measures included quality of life (FACT-G, FACT-B/C, WHO-5), fatigue (FACIT-F), depression/anxiety (HADS), and mood states (ASTS). A per protocol analysis using mixed linear models was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients were screened on-site for eligibility. Eighty-six cancer survivors (83% female; mean age 53.7 ± 9.7 years; 49% breast cancer) were included into the study. Sixty-two patients were allocated to the intervention group and 24 patients, to the waiting group (mean waiting time 5 ± 1 weeks). Sixty-six data sets were included in the final analysis. Significant improvements were observed in favor of the intervention group after 12 weeks compared with the waiting group at the end of the waiting period for quality of life, anxiety/depression, and fatigue. Results from the 6-month follow-up for the whole study population showed lasting improvement of quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program can be considered as an effective means to improve quality of life, fatigue, and mental health of cancer patients. Moreover, it appears to have a sustainable effect, which has to be proved in randomized trials.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-9090
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeitler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaspers
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Scheidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steckhan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cancer; day care clinic program; integrative medicine; lifestyle modification; mind-body medicine; mindfulness meditation; naturopathy; oncology