Documentation of published clinical trials and ... - Institut Hiscia

Quality of Life / Pain 3.7
Heusser P. et al. (2006) Palliative in-patient cancer treatment in an anthroposophic hospital:
I/II. Forschende Komplementärmedizin 13 (2/3).
Study design
Design 1-arm, prospective, longitudinal study concerning quality of life (QoL) of
cancer patients before, during and after treatment in an anthroposophic
clinic in Switzerland (Lukas Klinik, LK).
Patients 144 in-patients with advanced epithelial cancers. Assessment of tumourrelated
therapy patterns 4 months prior to admission, during stationaly
treatment (3 weeks on average) and 4 months after baseline.
Assessment of QoL at admission, hospital discharge and 4 months after
hospitalisation.
Treatment Anthroposophic treatment starting at LK consisted of Iscador, other
medicaments from plants or minerals given as injections, orally or
external applications, baths, massage, therapeutic eurythmy, art therapy
(e.g. painting, music), counselling and diet. They were applied in addition
to already started or finished conventional cancer treatmens. At month
4, the subjectively perceived benefit from anthroposophic therapies at
LK and from conventional cancer therapy was assessed retrospectively
by telephone inteview.
Length of study 1995–1998.
Measurements Medical and socio-demographic baseline data, conventional cancer
treatments, anthroposophical treatmenst, treatment compliance, quality
of life (EORTC, QLQ-C30, HADS, SELT-M).
Most important results
As compared to before admission, at LK some conventional treatments appeared reduced, and
after discharge either reascended again (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, sleeping drugs, sychoactive
drugs), or remained constant (pain medication WHO I and II). Other treatments remained
about the same for all three periods: hormonotherapy, corticosteroids, pain medication WHO
III (opiates), antidepressants. As for anthroposophic treatment starting at LK compliance after
discharge was highest with Iscador 90%, lowest with art therapy 14%; many patients remained
primarily in the care of AM physicians. Compliance with anthroposophic therapies remained
high and the use of other complementary therapies (CAM) low.
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