In a recent study, researchers investigated the impact of nurse-provided guidance in integrative oncology (IO) programs on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life. Both intervention and control groups received IO practitioner guidance on self-treatment, but the intervention group also received additional guidance from IO-trained palliative care nurses. Assessment was done at baseline and a 24-hour follow-up using specific tools.

Results showed that patients in the intervention group experienced significantly greater improvement in fatigue and appetite compared with the control group. The study suggests that nurse-provided guidance, in addition to IO practitioner guidance, can have a positive impact on short-term fatigue and appetite in patients with cancer.

Reference: Ben-Arye E, Balneaves LG, Yaguda S, et al. Nurse-guided patient self-treatment in integrative oncology: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2023;31(4):233. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07689-4.