Patient Acceptability of the First Integrative Pediatric Oncology Unit in Spain-The Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona Experience: A Retrospective Study.
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Pediatric cancer patients and their families are increasingly combining conventional treatment with complementary therapies. These therapies are not covered by most public healthcare systems, and Spain is not an exception. To address this need, the Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Spain), established the first integrative pediatric oncology unit in 2019. The objective of this study is to describe the feasibility of implementing a pediatric integrative oncology unit, in terms of the acceptance of the interventions, as well as to present initial data on the care activities; Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study, conducted in the Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. Data from patients during a two-year period were collected by reviewing medical records in a pseudonymous manner; Results: From 1 September 2019 to 30 September 2021, the unit was visited by 433 patients. The median age of patients was 9 years [range 0-34 years], with 266 boys (61.4%) and 167 girls (38.6%). Of these patients, 90.1% were in active treatment, 7.6% were survivors, and 2.3% were at the end of life. Acupuncture was recommended to 227 patients, with a 94.7% acceptance rate. Aromatherapy was recommended to 114 patients, with a 100% acceptance. The reflexology team visited 129 patients, delivering a total of 414 sessions, with a 96.1% acceptance.; Conclusions: The findings of our study support the feasibility of implementing an Integrative Pediatric Oncology Unit within a patient-centered care model in a comprehensive pediatric cancer center. The high acceptance rates of various complementary therapies highlight their potential role in enhancing supportive care for pediatric oncology patients.