The ACTION Centre as a Model for Patient Engagement and Knowledge Translation in Integrative Oncology Practice, Training, and Research

Abstract

Integrative Oncology (IO) programs are increasingly emerging at cancer centers and universities worldwide; often these include some combination of clinical service, research, and/or training. However, one gap that often occurs is in moving research results into practice, due to complexities and differences between research and service delivery models and priorities. We recently created the ACTION (Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology) Centre with the goal of partnering with the provincial public health service to promote and facilitate evidence-based integrative oncology care throughout Alberta. The Centre bridges the silos of academia and clinical care by embodying 3 core principles, to be (1) Patient-oriented, (2) Collaborative, and (3) Evidence-based. The ACTION Centre oversees the implementation of clinical research and academic training, and supports the development of clinical services, as well as patient and provider education. The ACTION Centre has five components which include: (1) Patient and healthcare provider education; (2) Individualized IO consultation and treatment planning; (3) Supporting access to complementary therapies; (4) Clinical trials of IO interventions, and; (5) Student training through the TRACTION (Training in Clinical Trials and Integrative Oncology) program. We offer this model of shareholder collaboration in the hopes that other IO programs may be able to use it as a template to further their own progress, working collaboratively toward the ultimate goal of advancing evidence-based, comprehensive, integrative healthcare to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.