Integrative Oncology Models of Care: Practice Patterns From NCCN Member Institutions

Patients with cancer frequently desire to incorporate integrative oncology (IO) practices into their care. However, patients are often uncertain about how to best access safe and effective IO practices and providers. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Best Practices Committee (BPC), in collaboration with a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, sought information regarding IO practices of NCCN Member Institutions.

The BPC conducted a survey of NCCN Member Institution IO practices, which was distributed via a web-based survey tool to a representative at each center. Results were compiled using descriptive statistics.

Twenty-nine centers responded to the survey, with 100% of the responding institutions offering IO services. Services provided included nutritional/dietary services (97%), stress and anxiety management services (76%), mind-body practices (72%), physical therapy/occupational therapy (72%), acupressure/acupuncture (69%), and massage therapy (59%). While the mechanism for patient access varied, the most common was provider referral with some services available by self-scheduling. Twenty-one percent of centers used institutionally designed algorithms for referrals. Significant variation in funding for services existed between institutions, including combinations of self-pay, insurance-based, and philanthropically funded models.

There was substantial variation in how NCCN Member Institutions deliver IO services. These results provide guidance for health-care organizations seeking to develop IO services and an opportunity to align best practices. As data were compiled solely from sites providing comprehensive cancer services, non-academic community settings may find similar implementation challenging. However, this information provides cancer providers insight into IO services most often sought by patients with cancer.