Frequency and characteristics of integrative oncology (IO) consults in patients with cancer receiving inpatient rehabilitation.

285 Background: IO interventions may provide patients with cancer with relief of physical, psychological, and social distress related to their disease and its treatments. Little is known about the frequency and predictors of IO referral for symptom management in cancer rehabilitation inpatients. Methods: This descriptive retrospective review identified the frequency and characteristics of cancer rehabilitation inpatients referred to IO from 5/2016-8/2019. Results: Out of 1196 inpatient rehabilitation admissions, 100 (8.4%) were referred to IO during the study period. Admission AMPAC 6-click scores were 15 (+/-6) for total mobility and 16 (+/-4) for activities of daily living (equates to a ˃ 50% degree of functional impairment). 35% had brain/spine cancer, 20% hematologic; 67% advanced/metastatic cancer. Top reasons for consultation to IO included: pain (73%), integrative approach (41%), relaxation (38%), stress/anxiety (33%), fatigue (27%), sleep disturbance (23%), spirituality (9%), neuropathy (8%), and nausea/vomiting (7%). Out of the 100 patients referred, 13 did not receive any intervention due to thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, or treatment not completed during hospitalization. Recommendations included: massage therapy (81/100) mostly for pain (94%) and fatigue (11%); acupuncture (53/100) for pain (70%), fatigue (32%), nausea/vomiting (16%), sleep (11%), stress/anxiety (8%), and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (6%); music therapy (14/100) for anxiety (57%), mood/depression (36%), rehabilitation support (29%), pain (21%), social interaction (14%), and other reasons such as fatigue, motivation (36%); and yoga (2/100) for stress/anxiety. A majority of patients referred to IO received at least one intervention: massage therapy (n=69), acupuncture (n=39), or music therapy (n=11). Conclusions: This exploratory study shows that a small percentage of cancer rehabilitation inpatients were referred to IO. Most patients did receive one or more IO interventions, with pain as the most common indication. Larger trials are needed to characterize the effects of IO on inpatient rehabilitation.