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Cancer Survivorship and Care / Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Journal article
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · August 14, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This prospective cohort study of 433 cancer patients identified non-White race and active cancer treatment as independent barriers to completing an eight-session acupuncture regimen, with non-White patients reporting greater baseline and post-treatment impairment in physical functioning and pain interference domains. The study is descriptive of utilization patterns and disparities in a single integrative oncology program and does not establish the efficacy of acupuncture or causal mechanisms for observed disparities.
Prospective cohort study. 433 cancer patients (238 active cancer, 194 survivors) enrolled from an integrative oncology program; 280 White (64.7%), 153 non-White (35.3%).. Intervention: Acupuncture regimen as part of integrative oncology care for cancer-related adverse effects; regimen completion defined as ≥8 sessions.. n = 433. Winship Cancer Institute (single centre).
Non-White race associated with lower regimen completion (OR 0.63; p = 0.047) Active cancer treatment associated with lower regimen completion (OR 0.54; p = 0.005) Only 153 of 433 patients (35.2%) attended eight or more sessions
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The findings highlight racial and treatment-status disparities in acupuncture regimen adherence and symptom severity in cancer populations, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve access and completion among non-White and actively treated patients. However, this is a single-centre observational study without a control arm, so it documents disparities and associations rather than establishing causal mechanisms or the comparative efficacy of acupuncture.
A prospective observational cohort study identifying barriers to acupuncture completion in cancer patients; lacks a control arm, reports surrogate endpoints (patient-reported outcomes), and is descriptive rather than interventional, making it hypothesis-generating for health equity rather than practice-changing.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
The findings highlight racial and treatment-status disparities in acupuncture regimen adherence and symptom severity in cancer populations, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve access and completion among non-White and actively treated patients. However, this is a single-centre observational study without a control arm, so it documents disparities and associations rather than establishing causal mechanisms or the comparative efficacy of acupuncture.
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Acupuncture is an important integrative therapy in oncology settings as an adjunctive management option for cancer-related adverse effects. However, barriers to utilization of acupuncture in minority populations have been reported. This study sought to assess factors that impact completion of a recommended acupuncture regimen in a racially diverse cohort of cancer patients, along with determining the usefulness of functioning and well-being questionnaires in evaluating acupuncture outcomes. We prospectively enrolled 433 patients who completed at least one acupuncture visit from the Integrative Oncology and Survivorship Program at the Winship Cancer Institute. Demographic characteristics were collected. PROMIS-29 questionnaire was administered at baseline and follow-up to measure patient-reported outcomes across domains of functioning and well-being. Logistic regression models were created to examine factors associated with regimen completion among all patients, and domain improvement among patients with reported symptoms following regimen completion. There were 433 patients included: 153 (35.2%) attended eight or more sessions. 280 (64.7%) patients were White and 153 (35.3%) were non-White. There were 238 (55.1%) active cancer patients and 194 (44.9%) survivors. Multivariable logistic regression showed that non-White race (OR 0.63; p = 0.047) and active treatment (OR 0.54; p = 0.005) were associated with lower adherence to the acupuncture regimen. No differences in post-treatment improvement were observed across race or cancer status. Non-white patients had greater severity score of physical functioning (baseline: 54.2% vs. 32.4%; p = 0.019 | post-treatment: 50.0% vs. 18.1%; p <0.001) and pain interference (baseline: 34.3% vs. 62.5%; p = 0.005 | post-treatment: 60.4% vs. 27.6%; p = 0.001) domains. Additional analyses suggest obesity and delay in treatment were associated with any improvement of PROMIS-29 domains after completion. Race and active cancer treatment were notable barriers to completing a recommended acupuncture regimen. Although effective in managing cancer-related symptoms, non-white patients faced greater impairment in physical functioning, social participation, and pain interference. Future efforts to address these disparities and ensure appropriate schedule adherence can maximize the benefit of acupuncture among cancer patients.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.