Pediatric Hematology–Oncology Provider Attitudes and Beliefs About the Use of Acupuncture for Their Patients

Background/Objectives : Children with cancer suffer due to the underlying disease and prescribed cancer-directed therapies, and non-pharmacologic modalities may offer improved symptom control without additional medications. We sought to elicit knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) providers surrounding the incorporation of acupuncture for symptom management for their patients. Methods : A cross-sectional survey instrument was created, formatted, and delivered to physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) at a single US pediatric cancer center. Survey responses were summarized by descriptive statistics. Results : A total of 78 PHO clinicians participated (response rate 29%). Most participants were interested in learning more about acupuncture ( n = 42, 56.0%), yet rarely ( n = 17, 22.7%) or never ( n = 46, 61.3%) recommend acupuncture to patients. Most ( n = 51, 73.9%) noted that they would support institutional development of an acupuncture program. Over half ( n = 37, 52.2%) indicated their threshold for minimum hematologic indices for acupuncture includes a platelet count greater than 20,000 and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than 500 ( n = 37, 54.4%). Approximately two-thirds ( n = 52, 66.7%) of participants noted that acupuncture could improve their patient's quality of life, and most ( n = 46, 67.6%) were not worried about harm. Conclusions : Acupuncture for symptom management is an evidenced-based, guideline-concordant recommendation for adults with cancer, but robust data in the pediatric oncology population are lacking. PHO providers do not routinely recommend acupuncture for patients but note that it may improve quality of life. Given their high symptom burden, rigorous studies of non-pharmacologic strategies for pediatric symptom management are vital. Acupuncture should be examined as a potential beneficial adjunct

Acupuncture · Alternative medicine · Cancer · Family medicine · Guideline · Pathology · Physical therapy · Population · Quality of life (healthcare · Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Medicine · Nursing · Hematology · Internal Medicine