Program Evaluation of Acupuncture and Massage Services Delivered for Symptom Management at a Community Cancer Clinic

High symptom burden disproportionately affects minoritized racial and ethnic groups during cancer treatments and exacerbates health disparities related to quality of life, treatment adherence, and overall survival. Acupuncture and massage have a growing evidence base for cancer symptom management, as shown in recent guidelines from ASCO and the Society for Integrative Oncology. However, access remains limited in community-based, underserved settings.

We conducted a program evaluation of integrative medicine services at a community cancer clinic in East Harlem, New York. Auricular acupuncture and massage were offered 1 day a week to patients with cancer in the chemoinfusion suites at no additional cost. We collected demographics and clinical characteristics of patient visits, as well as types of treatments delivered and reasons treatments were not received. We assessed pain, fatigue, anxiety, and nausea immediately pre- and post-treatment, as well as patient satisfaction.

From 2022 to 2024, we offered acupuncture or massage at 635 patient visits, which were predominantly non-White (82.4%), Hispanic (44.9%), Spanish-speaking (31.7%), and Medicaid-insured (45.5%). Of these 635 patient visits, 396 (62.4%) received acupuncture or massage. Of the 239 who did not receive treatment, the most common reasons were lack of time (54.4%) and lack of interest (38.9%). Rates of treatment receipt were higher among female, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, Medicare-insured, and chemotherapy patient visits (all P < .05). Patients reported reductions in pain, fatigue, anxiety, and nausea immediately post-treatment. More than 90% of treatment recipients reported satisfaction with the program.

This program reached a diverse, underserved population with historically limited access to integrative therapies. The findings highlight the barriers and facilitators to bringing acupuncture and massage services to community-based oncology settings.