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Vivekananda Yoga Program for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers
Integrative cancer therapies
Short Title: Integr.Cancer.Ther.
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2014
Pages: 446 - 451
Sources ID: 31331
Notes: LR: 20170220; CI: (c) The Author(s) 2015; GR: K01 AT007559/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States; GR: K01 AT007559-01A1/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States; JID: 101128834; NIHMS686972; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/04/29 06:00 [entrez]; 2015/04/29 06:00 [pubmed]; 2016/05/20 06:00 [medline]; ppublish
Visibility: Public (group default)
Abstract: (Show)
BACKGROUND: The primary purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of a couple-based Vivekananda Yoga (VKC) intervention in lung cancer patients and caregivers. Secondly, we examined preliminary efficacy regarding quality of life (QOL) outcomes. METHOD: In this single-arm feasibility trial, patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy and their caregivers participated in a 15-session VKC program that focused on the interconnectedness of the dyad. We assessed pre-and post-intervention levels of fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychological distress, overall QOL, spirituality, and relational closeness. We tracked feasibility data, and participants completed program evaluations. RESULTS: We approached 28 eligible dyads of which 15 (53%) consented and 9 (60%) completed the intervention. Patients (mean age = 73 years, 63% female, all stage III) and caregivers (mean age = 62 years, 38% female, 63% spouses) completed a mean of 10 sessions and 95.5% of them rated the program as very useful. Paired t tests revealed a significant increase in patients' mental health (d = 0.84; P = .04) and a significant decrease in caregivers' sleep disturbances (d = 1.44; P = .02). Although not statistically significant, for patients, effect sizes for change scores were medium for benefit finding and small for distress (d = 0.65 and 0.37, respectively). For caregivers, medium effects were found for improvement in physical functioning (d = 0.50). CONCLUSION: This novel supportive care program appears to be safe, feasible, acceptable, and subjectively useful for lung cancer patients and their caregivers and lends support for further study.