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

Researchers evaluated a program offering acupuncture and massage to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at a community clinic in East Harlem, New York. The study tracked 635 patient visits over two years (2022-2024), focusing on a predominantly underserved population where 82% were non-White, 45% were Hispanic, and nearly half had Medicaid insurance. Services were provided once weekly in the chemotherapy infusion suites at no cost to patients.

Of the 635 visits, 396 patients (62%) received either auricular acupuncture or massage therapy. The main reasons patients didn't receive treatment were lack of time during their appointment (54%) and lack of interest (39%). The program was particularly well-received by female, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, and Medicare-insured patients.

Patients reported immediate improvements in four key symptoms: pain, fatigue, anxiety, and nausea. These benefits were measured right before and after each treatment session. More than 90% of patients who received services reported being satisfied with the program.

This study is important because it demonstrates that acupuncture and massage can be successfully integrated into community cancer clinics serving diverse, underserved populations who typically have limited access to these therapies. The findings support guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society for Integrative Oncology recommending these therapies for cancer symptom management. For patients undergoing cancer treatment, this suggests that acupuncture and massage may provide meaningful symptom relief when integrated into routine care. If you're interested in acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms, consult with a licensed acupuncturist experienced in oncology settings.

This program evaluation assessed integrative medicine services at a community oncology clinic in East Harlem over 2022-2024. Of 635 patient visits offered auricular acupuncture or massage during chemoinfusion, 396 (62.4%) received treatment. The population was predominantly non-White (82.4%), Hispanic (44.9%), Spanish-speaking (31.7%), and Medicaid-insured (45.5%). Primary barriers to treatment receipt were time constraints (54.4%) and lack of interest (38.9%). Treatment uptake was significantly higher among female, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, Medicare-insured, and chemotherapy patients (P < .05). Pre-post assessments demonstrated immediate reductions in pain, fatigue, anxiety, and nausea, with >90% patient satisfaction. This study demonstrates feasibility of delivering evidence-based integrative therapies aligned with ASCO and SIO guidelines in underserved community oncology settings. The findings identify key implementation barriers and patient characteristics associated with treatment acceptance, informing strategies for expanding access to integrative oncology services in minoritized populations experiencing disproportionate symptom burden.