TY - JOUR
T1 - A Pragmatic Evaluation of Symptom Distress After Group Meditation for Cancer Patients and Caregivers
T2 - A Preliminary Report
AU - Lopez, Gabriel
AU - Chaoul, Alejandro
AU - Powers-James, Catherine
AU - Spelman, Amy
AU - Wei, Qi
AU - Engle, Rosalinda
AU - Hashmi, Yousra
AU - Bruera, Eduardo
AU - Cohen, Lorenzo
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was in part supported by a grant from Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment. The authors are appreciative of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for his advice in designing Tibetan-based mind-body programs for people with cancer.
Funding Information:
This work was in part supported by a grant from Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment . The authors are appreciative of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for his advice in designing Tibetan-based mind-body programs for people with cancer.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - Context: Complementary health approaches such as meditation may help improve cancer patient and caregiver symptoms, yet little research has examined the clinical application of these programs. Objectives: We explored the effects of a meditation group class, offered as part of an integrative medicine clinic at a comprehensive cancer center, on patient and caregiver self-reported symptoms. Methods: Participants (patients and caregivers) of any three meditation group classes offered—Power of Breath (PB), Sacred Sounds (SS), and Movement & Breath (MB)—were asked to complete the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS; scale 0–10, 10 most severe) before and after participation. ESAS individual items and subscales were analyzed; distress subscales included global (global distress score 0–90), physical (physical distress score 0–60), and psychological (psychological distress score, 0–20). Data were analyzed examining premeditation/postmeditation scores using paired t-tests and between types of meditation using analyses of variance. Results: One hundred forty-two unique participants (76 patients and 66 caregivers) attended one or more meditation groups (mean 1.84) from May to December 2015 (265 total attendance: PB n = 92; SS n = 87; MB n = 86). For all participants, we observed clinically significant reduction/improvement in global distress scores (−5.17, SD 8; P < 0.0001) and in individual symptoms (ESAS decrease ≥ 1; means) of well-being (−1.36 SD 1.7; P < 0.0001), fatigue (−1.34 SD 1.9; P < 0.0001), anxiety (−1.26 SD 1.6; P < 0.001), and shortness of breath (−1.2 SD 2; P = 0.001). Comparing class length (60 vs. 90 minutes), class content (PB vs. SS vs. MB), and participants (caregivers vs. patients), there were no statistically significant differences in symptom score reduction. Conclusion: A single meditation group class offered as part of clinical care resulted in relief of multiple self-reported symptoms in both patients and caregivers.
AB - Context: Complementary health approaches such as meditation may help improve cancer patient and caregiver symptoms, yet little research has examined the clinical application of these programs. Objectives: We explored the effects of a meditation group class, offered as part of an integrative medicine clinic at a comprehensive cancer center, on patient and caregiver self-reported symptoms. Methods: Participants (patients and caregivers) of any three meditation group classes offered—Power of Breath (PB), Sacred Sounds (SS), and Movement & Breath (MB)—were asked to complete the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS; scale 0–10, 10 most severe) before and after participation. ESAS individual items and subscales were analyzed; distress subscales included global (global distress score 0–90), physical (physical distress score 0–60), and psychological (psychological distress score, 0–20). Data were analyzed examining premeditation/postmeditation scores using paired t-tests and between types of meditation using analyses of variance. Results: One hundred forty-two unique participants (76 patients and 66 caregivers) attended one or more meditation groups (mean 1.84) from May to December 2015 (265 total attendance: PB n = 92; SS n = 87; MB n = 86). For all participants, we observed clinically significant reduction/improvement in global distress scores (−5.17, SD 8; P < 0.0001) and in individual symptoms (ESAS decrease ≥ 1; means) of well-being (−1.36 SD 1.7; P < 0.0001), fatigue (−1.34 SD 1.9; P < 0.0001), anxiety (−1.26 SD 1.6; P < 0.001), and shortness of breath (−1.2 SD 2; P = 0.001). Comparing class length (60 vs. 90 minutes), class content (PB vs. SS vs. MB), and participants (caregivers vs. patients), there were no statistically significant differences in symptom score reduction. Conclusion: A single meditation group class offered as part of clinical care resulted in relief of multiple self-reported symptoms in both patients and caregivers.
KW - Integrative medicine
KW - caregivers
KW - complementary health approaches
KW - meditation
KW - self-reported outcomes
KW - symptoms
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.01.018
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.01.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 29421165
AN - SCOPUS:85043463478
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 55
SP - 1321-1326.e1
JO - Journal of pain and symptom management
JF - Journal of pain and symptom management
IS - 5
ER -