Vivekananda Yoga Program for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.
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.


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA kmilbury@mdanderson.org.
Kathrin
K
Milbury
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Smitha
S
Mallaiah
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Gabriel
G
Lopez
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Zhongxing
Z
Liao
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Chunyi
C
Yang
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Cindy
C
Carmack
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Alejandro
A
Chaoul
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Amy
A
Spelman
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Lorenzo
L
Cohen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*
dyadic intervention; family caregivers; feasibility; mind-body medicine; non-small-cell lung cancer; quality of life