Background: Research on quality of life (QoL)-related concerns among patients with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and cancer is limited. This study compared the QoL-related concerns and characteristics among chemotherapy-treated patients with cancer and DM to those without DM. Methods: Chemotherapy-treated patients were evaluated during integrative oncology (IO) consultations, which included evidence-based complementary therapies recommended by their healthcare providers to address quality of life (QoL) concerns. During these consultations, the participants were assessed for comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (DM). QoL-related concerns were measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: Of the 1171 patients referred for an IO consultation, 272 (23.2%) had an established diagnosis of DM. The DM patients were older, presented with more advanced stages of cancer, and had more chronic comorbidities (p < 0.001). While fatigue was the most frequently reported QoL-related concern in both groups, the patients with DM had more severe pain scores in the ESAS (4.9 vs. 4.4, p = 0.022) and lower ESAS well-being scores (5.9 vs. 5.5, p = 0.021). Conclusions: Chemotherapy-treated patients with cancer and DM are characterized by higher rates of comorbidities and report more severe scores for pain and for poorer general well-being. Oncologists and diabetologists should consider referring patients with both diagnoses for an IO consultation to address their QoL-related concerns. More research is needed to understand the impact of IO consultations and treatments on well-being among patients diagnosed with both DM and cancer.

Integrative oncology (IO) programs are being implemented in supportive and palliative cancer care services worldwide, though research on the design of IO training programs is limited. This paper explores perspectives of trainees undergoing a national, multi-disciplinary IO training program in Israel, through their pre- and post-training narratives. Trainees underwent a 110-hour IO training program focused on symptom management, through online and in-person instruction. Qualitative analysis was performed on the written narratives of program trainees, addressing pretraining expectations and post-training outcomes. A digital questionnaire with open-ended questions was used, with free-text reflective narratives analyzed using ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding. Of the 68 trainees participating in the program, 62 provided precourse assessment; and 44 completed training, of which 33 provided post-training narratives. Pretraining themes included an expectation for enhancing communication-related competencies, primarily with patients but also with other healthcare professionals. Post-training narratives highlighted themes which included forming a professional identity as IO providers; enhanced collaboration within multidisciplinary teams; acquisition of practical competencies across diverse IO modalities; sharing clinical strategies and knowledge; and experiences of both personal and professional growth. Trainees in this national multidisciplinary IO training program expressed pretraining expectations focused primarily on communication skills; and post-training reflections emphasizing professional development, team-based practice, and integration of IO into palliative care. These findings suggest that IO training supports the transition from theoretical learning to practical clinical competencies. Further research is warranted to evaluate long-term symptom management and communication-related outcomes of combined IO and palliative care programs.

Objectives Supportive and palliative care include non-oncology settings where patients suffer from pain and quality of life-related concerns. Integrative medicine plays important roles in supportive care and symptom management, including Integrative Obstetric (IOb) programmes within peri-partum settings. Multidisciplinary approaches may help nurse-midwives and obstetricians improve patient care and associated outcomes. This study presents a national perspective on IOb programmes in Israel. Methods A qualitative research methodology was codesigned by the Society for Complementary Medicine and Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Israel Medical Association. A questionnaire with 17 open-ended questions was distributed throughout obstetrics and gynaecology departments across Israel. Respondent narratives were qualitatively analysed using ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding. Results 22 senior obstetricians and IOb directors across 11 centres with IOb programmes completed the questionnaire. Core themes considered essential for the design and operation of IOb programmes included (1) determining major goals and indications for referral, primarily pain and anxiety; (2) targeting patients most likely to benefit; (3) identifying barriers and enablers to implementation and communication with the obstetric team; (4) designing the referral process and (5) documenting outcomes and safety of the IOb intervention in electronic medical files. Conclusions Designing and implementing IOb models of care that effectively support holistic symptom management within obstetric settings requires identifying barriers and enablers and establishing effective communication between obstetric and integrative medical teams. Further research should explore other multidisciplinary models of IOb care and structured referral development and testing while assessing risks and effectiveness.