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Background Side effects of cancer treatment have a high impact on patients. Besides physicians and nurses, other patients are an important partner for communication on side effects. Online fora within self-help groups offer a digital option for this communication. Our aim was to assess the content of the largest German self-help forum for cancer patients with respect to side effects of cancer treatment. Methods All threads in the self-help forum of the German women’s self-help (11/17/2012 to 06/01/2021) under the topic “side effect management”- “how can I help myself?” were assessed quantitatively (topic, duration, number of answers at all and per day at peak) and regarding their content. Results The vast majority of patients mentioned different kinds of pain as side effects, followed by infection or necrosis. While most threads showed a target-oriented search to obtain specific information, a quarter also dealt with strong emotions (anxiety, worry, despair). The main goal in starting a thread was to find information and other patients with similar problems. Most reactions (visits and answers) were received by threads on side effects of chemotherapy. Conclusions The forum of a self-help group allows interactive patient-centred discourse between members independent of place and time. It provides insight into the meaning and burden of side effects from the patients’ perspective. This may help to optimise the support of cancer patients.

Patient satisfaction is a crucial measure of healthcare quality, especially for Arab immigrants who often face barriers in accessing care. We investigated in this study patient satisfaction among Arab immigrants in Germany’s general medical care system, focusing on the roles of trust in doctors, health literacy, and acculturation. Using a cross-sectional online survey, we collected data from 165 eligible participants whohad previously consulted a doctors in Germany. We used validated instruments to assess patient satisfaction (EUROPEP), trust in doctors, health literacy, and acculturation. We examined associations between these variables using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Overall patient satisfaction was moderate (mean score: 78.5 ± 18.1), with particular dissatisfaction reported regarding accessibility issues like appointment scheduling and waiting times. Trust in doctors emerged as the strongest predictor of patient satisfaction (β = 0.82, p  < 0.001). Higher levels of health literacy (β = −0.16, p  < 0.001) and acculturation (β = −0.12, p  = 0.003) were independently associated with lower satisfaction. The psychosocial regression model explained a substantial proportion of variance in patient satisfaction (R² = 0.76). In contrast, sociodemographic variables, including gender, education, and duration of residence in Germany, were not significantly associated with patient satisfaction.These findings highlight the importance of trust-building and effective communication in healthcare for migrant populations. The findings underscore the relevance of culturally sensitive healthcare approaches that address both interpersonal and systemic factors to improve patient experiences for Arab immigrants in Germany.

Background The internet has become an important source of information for cancer patients. Numerous websites provide nutritional advice that promises benefits for the outcome of cancer therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare the online information about cancer diets on German- and English-language websites. Methods A patient’s online search was simulated using the search engines Google and Bing. Websites were evaluated by means of content and formal criteria according to a standardized instrument. Results The analysis of 31 websites revealed heterogeneous quality regarding content and formality, distributed evenly among the German- and English-language websites. The quality of content and formality does not correlate with the website’s order of appearance in a browser-based search. Conclusions The high discrepancy in quality of content and formality represents a risk for cancer patients, who are searching for information online. Content of poor quality and formality increases the risk of mal-information and consecutive false decisions on diet. It results in the decline of therapy response, an increased probability of therapeutic toxicity and a poorer prognosis in general. The visibility of high-quality websites needs to be improved.

Hyperthermia is a generic term for different techniques using heat in cancer therapies. Temperatures of about 42° Celsius in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy may improve the effectiveness of those treatments. Clinical benefit is shown in “standard hyperthermia” with tumour temperatures assessed during treatment. This systematic review thoroughly assesses the state of evidence concerning the benefits and side effects of electro hyperthermia or whole-body hyperthermia (“alternative hyperthermia”) in oncology. From 26 April 2021 to 09 May 2021, a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of alternative medical hyperthermia therapy on cancer patients. From all 47,388 search results, 53 publications concerning 53 studies with 2006 patients were included in this systematic review. The patients were diagnosed with different types of cancer. The hyperthermic methods included whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) with different methods and electro hyperthermia (EH). The majority of the included studies were single-arm studies, counting in total 32 studies. Six studies were randomized controlled trials (RCT). In addition, one systematic review (SR) was found. The most critical endpoints were tumour response, survival data, pain relief, myelosuppression and toxicities. Outcome was heterogeneous, and considering the methodological limitations, clinical evidence for the benefit of alternative hyperthermia in cancer patients is lacking. Neither for whole-body hyperthermia nor for electro hyperthermia there is any evidence with respect to improvement of survival or quality of life in cancer patients.

Psychotropic medicinal plants are commonly used among oncology patients, yet their relevance in the perioperative setting remains insufficiently characterized. We conducted a literature-based identification of 18 neuroactive plants and surveyed 123 cancer patients and 109 healthcare professionals at a tertiary hospital in Northern Thuringia, Germany. Seventy-five percent of patients reported using at least one psychotropic plant. Knowledge levels were high and similar across groups (median 11 plants), while professionals reported a broader usage spectrum (p = 0.042). Frequently known and applied species included Valeriana officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Hypericum perforatum, and Urtica. Women used more plants than men (p = 0.024), and higher usage rates were observed in breast cancer and head and neck cancer patients. Heat-map analyses showed substantial overlap in knowledge but differences for species such as Atropa, Cannabis, and Papaver somniferum. Given the potential interactions with anesthetic and analgesic medications, structured preoperative assessment of herbal use is warranted to enhance perioperative safety.

Background This study focused on Ukrainian refugees and migrants, a population that, with an ongoing war, is expected to grow in Germany. Over 1 million Ukrainians with exceptional legal status and access to public insurance in Germany significantly burden governmental services, especially German healthcare. It is thus essential to facilitate their integration into the healthcare system and ensure its proper usage. Identifying the obstacles Ukrainian refugees and migrants encounter while accessing healthcare services is crucial to ease their integration. Methods A qualitative study was conducted from February 2023 to April 2023. Thirty semi-structured interviews were performed with Ukrainian migrants and refugees. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, organized, and categorized. Thematic analysis was performed to identify barriers related to the use of German healthcare services. To assess possible differences in the experiences of Ukrainian refugees and migrants, the responses of these two groups for each topic were analysed separately. Results Ukrainian migrants and refugees experience similar barriers while accessing German healthcare services. Predominantly, language barriers and a lack of understanding of the German healthcare system posed the main barriers in both groups. Additionally, structural challenges, such as differences in referral processes, appointment scheduling, and consultation duration, presented further challenges. Conclusion This research study emphasizes the importance of addressing cultural and structural barriers to improve healthcare accessibility and utilization for Ukrainian refugees and migrants in Germany to better facilitate their integration into the healthcare system.

Background Social media platforms are widely used by medical students not only for personal communication but increasingly for educational purposes. Despite this trend, evidence on structured integration of social media into medical curricula remains limited. This study explores the use of Instagram as a supplementary asynchronous teaching tool in hematology and medical oncology. Methods An Instagram account was created to complement the hematology and oncology teaching module. Educational content was disseminated through posts and interactive, case-based stories. Posts were categorized into five themes: ‘knowledge’, ‘media’, ‘work-life balance’, ‘patient care’, and ‘other’. Engagement rate served as a proxy for student interest. Interactive features such as polls, quizzes, and multiple-choice questions were employed to promote participation. Student interaction was quantified by story views relative to total followers. A survey was conducted at the end of the module to evaluate student perceptions. Results Posts related to ‘work-life balance’ achieved the highest engagement, while other categories showed no significant difference in interaction. Case-based Instagram Stories were viewed by an average of 48.9% (± 7.3%) of followers, indicating consistent student engagement. Case length did not affect participation. Among interaction formats, multiple-choice questions were preferred. In the final evaluation, 98.4% (60/62) of respondents rated the case-based learning approach via Instagram Stories as good or very good, and 93.2% (55/59) rated the “ilearnonco” Instagram account as a good or very good educational tool. Conclusion Instagram can be effectively integrated into a medical curriculum to support asynchronous, case-based learning in hematology and oncology. The high acceptance and engagement rates highlight the potential of social media as a complementary educational resource in medical education.

ObjectivePublic discussion and health-care systems worldwide have been focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Does it have an impact on cancer care today?Materials and methodsThe PRIO (“Prevention and Integrative Oncology”) Working Group (German Cancer Society) has initiated an online survey for physicians, medical staff and patients on April 16, 2020. Between April 16 and April 19, 47 doctors and 146 patients filled in the questionnaires. The survey is ongoing. We present the first data.ResultsA majority of German patients (76%) and physicians (71%) report moderate or high restriction in their daily life. A minority (patients 25%, physicians 13%) was not worried that necessary treatments or diagnostics were restricted. Organizing cancer care needs more time and efforts for 56% of all reporting doctors. 98% of all oncologists think that restriction of family visits has a negative impact on the mental health of cancer patients. Half of all participants (patients 43%, physicians 47%) expect negative consequences on the physical status of our patients. Patients feel the existing emotional stress in 34% of their physicians. 52% of physicians fear mental and/or physical longtime consequences for themselves.ConclusionThere is a high level of mental and physical stress triggered by the present COVID-19 management. After only a few weeks, human resources are limited. They will be the most important key for further health-care services for patients with cancer and other chronic diseases.

Purpose OM is a very relevant and sometimes therapy-limiting side effect of CT/RCT. There are prophylactic and therapeutic measures available that should be recommended to all patients. This study investigated how patients were informed about oral mucositis (OM) as possible side effect of CT/RCT, how well they knew about available prophylactic and therapeutic measures from the clinical guidelines and to what extent they applied these. Methods A standardized questionnaire on information and usage of prophylactic and therapeutic measures and patient-relevant outcomes based on the German S3 Guideline was distributed among patients in German cancer departments. Results Only 61.6% of 114 patients were informed about OM as possible side effect by their physician and 53.2% had complaints caused by OM. An insufficient number of patients were recommended to apply prophylactic and therapeutic measures. 63.5% of the patients felt well-informed about treatment options. The most frequently recommended measure was mouth rinse (50%). Only 17.6% of patients were advised to visit a dentist. Conclusions The measures proposed in the German S3 guideline were insufficiently recommended. To improve patient education and the quality of care, more intensive use should be made of information flyers, training of nursing staff and greater interdisciplinary cooperation. If treatment-associated OM is to be expected, dental consultations should be firmly integrated into treatment planning.

Background Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by oncology patients to manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve quality of life. Unlike conventional treatments, CAM is rarely reimbursed in Germany, resulting in significant out-of-pocket costs. These expenses may contribute to financial burden and financial toxicity, yet this dimension remains understudied. Methods This multicenter, open-label, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024. A standardized anonymous questionnaire collected demographic, socioeconomic, and medical data, CAM utilization, out-of-pocket expenditures, and distress levels (NCCN Distress Thermometer). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and independent t-tests were applied. Results A total of 209 patients (median age 62.6 years, 52.6% female) participated; 57.4% reported CAM use. Female patients were more likely than males to use CAM ( p  < 0.001). Among CAM users, 71.7% incurred out-of-pocket expenses, averaging €124/month for women and €153/month for men. Expenditures were highest among patients with hematological malignancies (€229/month). A strong positive correlation was observed between the number of CAM modalities used and monthly costs ( p  < 0.001). No significant difference in distress was found between CAM users and non-users; however, female CAM users reported lower distress than their male counterparts ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions CAM use is common among German oncology patients and generates substantial out-of-pocket costs, particularly in vulnerable subgroups. When combined with cancer-related income loss, these expenditures increase financial burden and may contribute to financial toxicity. Integrative oncology models, reimbursement strategies, and patient counseling are essential to mitigate economic vulnerability and ensure equitable access to supportive care.