A Feasibility Pilot Trial of Individualized Homeopathic Treatment of Fatigue in Children Receiving Chemotherapy

Brulé, David; Gillmeister, Biljana; Lee, Michelle; Alexander, Sarah; Gassas, Adam; Hendershot, Eleanor; Zupanec, Sue; Dupuis, L. Lee; Sung, Lillian

doi:10.1177/1534735415617023

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Because of the challenges of conducting randomized controlled trials with large samples when a specific type of cancer diagnosis is scarce or when the study encompasses a certain treatment phase, many studies involving pediatric cancer patients have investigated a range of tumors simultaneously. 18 , 69 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Clown Intervention on Self-Report and Biomarker Measures of Stress and Fatigue in Pediatric Osteosarcoma Inpatients: A Pilot Study

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Pediatric cancer patients experience different psychological processes during hospitalization that may regulate the immune response and affect recovery and response to cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to examine the feasibility of longitudinal testing of psychophysiological parameters of stress and fatigue in pediatric osteosarcoma patients hospitalized for chemotherapy submitted to clown intervention; and to investigate whether changes in the levels of biomarkers are associated with psychological stress and fatigue levels in these patients after the clown intervention. Methods: A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted at the pediatric oncology inpatient unit in a comprehensive cancer care center in Brazil including children and adolescents with osteosarcoma hospitalized for chemotherapy. Eight saliva samples were collected, comprising 4 at baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 after the clown intervention (+1, +4, +9, and +13 hours post-awakening). Salivary cortisol, α-amylase (sAA), cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels were determined using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Stress and fatigue were measured by Child Stress Scale–ESI and PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale respectively. Bivariate association analysis between stress and fatigue scores and biomarker levels were investigated using nonparametric statistics. Effect sizes were calculated for each outcome variable. Results: Six pediatric osteosarcoma patients were enrolled with no missing data. No significant effects sizes were observed for psychophysiological outcomes. Effect sizes ranged from 0.54 (cortisol) to 0 (interleukin-1β [IL-1β]). Decreasing overall trends were observed for cortisol levels for all 6 pediatric osteosarcoma patients over time. In addition, a similar pattern of tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) levels over time was found for all 6 patients. Patients with metastatic osteosarcoma showed a linear trend for a decrease in MMP-9 levels between 1 and 9 hours after the clown intervention and restoration to basal levels after 13 hours. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that it is feasible longitudinally measure psychophysiological outcomes in the pediatric osteosarcoma inpatients for chemotherapy. Clown intervention merits further study as a way to reduce stress as well as fatigue, since that the stress and cytokines measurements are feasible based on our work.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Clown Intervention on Self-Report and Biomarker Measures of Stress and Fatigue in Pediatric Osteosarcoma Inpatients: A Pilot Study

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The researchers concluded that the use of homeopathy in this setting was not feasible, primarily due to a lack of interest on behalf of parents, despite the fact that they found the treatment to be easy or very easy to follow. 25 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Homeopathic Treatment for Symptom Reduction in an Integrative Oncology Service

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Homeopathy has the potential to reduce symptoms related to cancer treatment. The present study examined the feasibility of a homeopathic consultation and treatment program, provided as part of an integrative oncology service. Methods: The electronic medical files of patients undergoing a homeopathic consultation in an integrative oncology service clinic were examined retrospectively. Adherence to the homeopathic treatment regimen and perceived response to the treatment were evaluated. Results: The files of 124 patient (34 males, 90 females) were examined, of which two-thirds reported acquiring and self-administering the homeopathic remedy as prescribed, and nearly three-quarters reporting a beneficial effect. Adherence to the homeopathic treatment regimen was greatest among patients attending a second visit, as opposed to having only telephone/e-mail follow-up (P < .005). An association was found between a perceived beneficial effect of treatment with attending a follow-up visit (P = .04), female gender (P = .02), younger age (P = .048), diagnosis of breast cancer (P = .014), and current radiation treatment (vs chemotherapy; P = .003). Patients reporting chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy were also more likely to report a beneficial effect (P = .004), as were female patients reporting hot flashes (P = .005) and those referred by an oncologist (P = .046). No adverse effects were attributed to the homeopathic treatment. Conclusions: Homeopathy can be successfully incorporated within a supportive care integrative oncology service. In addition to demographic and cancer-related characteristics, as well as symptoms, patients attending a second visit (vs only telephone/e-mail follow-up) were more likely to adhere to and perceive a beneficial effect from the homeopathic regimen.

show abstract

“…28,47 Studies have also reported positive effects of homoeopathy on fatigue symptoms in post chemotherapy patients. 28,48 Traumeel, a homeopathic combination medicine, is known for reducing pain in cancer patients. 49 Preliminary data from a study suggested that there is some beneficial effect of homeopathy in chemotherapy-induced stomatitis, but there is no convincing evidence for the efficacy of homeopathic remedies for other adverse effects in cancer treatments.…”

Section: Background and Justificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homoeopathic Treatment as an Add-On for Minimizing After Effects of Conventionally Treated Cancer Patients: A Simple Randomized Pilot Study—Protocol from Northeast India Perspective

Sharma

Aggarwal

et al. 2021

ASJO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The north-eastern region of India accounts for a total of 37,448 cancer cases reported from 11 population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) from 2012 to 2014. Studies suggest that with the holistic approach adopted by homoeopathy, not only the symptoms like cancer pain are alleviated, but also the overall well-being of the patient. Homoeopathy can be beneficial to minimize the treatment-induced adverse effects like radiation-induced mucositis, skin reactions, postoperative seroma, bleeding, and complications associated with the use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. This study intends to provide homoeopathic services as an add-on to conventional treatment to the patients referred for homoeopathic treatment after their due consent. The primary objective is to study the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines for combating the suffering of cancer patients having complaints other than cancer. A sample size of 70 patients per group in two arms (Arm A: standard allopathic drug and Arm B: standard allopathic drug + homoeopathic treatment) will be recruited using simple random sampling without repetition. Cancer patients reporting complaints other than cancer itself and suffering from the after-effects of cancer treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to any reputed cancer institute will be screened and will be recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After completion of the six months study duration, results will be able to predict the role of homoeopathic treatment as an add-on to conventionally treated cancer patients to minimize the suffering other than cancer and the after-effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If found significant, this could prove to be a contribution in the health care system in handling cancer cases that are very difficult to treat. Further, the cost-effectiveness of homoeopathy will enable developing countries to manage such a disease effectively.

show abstract

A Feasibility Pilot Trial of Individualized Homeopathic Treatment of Fatigue in Children Receiving Chemotherapy

Cited by 7 publications

References 18 publications

The Effect of Clown Intervention on Self-Report and Biomarker Measures of Stress and Fatigue in Pediatric Osteosarcoma Inpatients: A Pilot Study

The Effect of Clown Intervention on Self-Report and Biomarker Measures of Stress and Fatigue in Pediatric Osteosarcoma Inpatients: A Pilot Study

Feasibility of Homeopathic Treatment for Symptom Reduction in an Integrative Oncology Service

Homoeopathic Treatment as an Add-On for Minimizing After Effects of Conventionally Treated Cancer Patients: A Simple Randomized Pilot Study—Protocol from Northeast India Perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About