Speaker
Description
BACKGROUND: We developed and tested a patient-caregiver yoga intervention for patients with thoracic cancers. Using a natural experimental design, we now seek to compare in-person versus remote delivery of the yoga intervention sessions on feasibility, acceptability and intervention outcomes.
METHODS: Secondary analyses of an RCT testing the efficacy of a 15-session yoga intervention on patient functional capacity (6MWT) and patient and caregiver QOL outcomes are presented here. Initially, the intervention was delivered in-person at the hospital. With the onset of the COVID pandemic, the sessions were delivered remotely (Zoom). Dyads completed self-report assessments with patients also completing the 6MWT before randomization, 6 weeks (at the end of treatment). A subset of participants completed semi-structured interviews about their experience with the intervention. To avoid confounds related to the pandemic, we compared dyads enrolled from January 2019-January 2020 (in-person; n=18 dyads) and May 2023-March 2024 (remote; n=16 dyads).
RESULTS: Although session attendance was significantly greater for those attending remotely (P=.01; session means: in-person=13.1 remote =14.8), patients’ responses to the yoga sessions did not differ as a function of delivery for the 6MWT (P=.75; least squared means (LSM): in-person=418 meters; remote=426 meters) and physical QOL (PCS of SF-36; P=.87; LSM: in person=41.9; remote= 41.39). However, patients attending the sessions in-person reported significantly improved mental QOL (MCS of SF-36; P=.02, in-person LMS=51.4; remote LSM=43.0) and marginally significantly greater coping efficacy (P=.07; LSM: in-person=4.5; remote=4.2) and dyadic illness communication (P=.09; LSM: in-person=4.43; remote= 4.05) than those via remote delivery. For caregivers, we did not find group differences for any outcomes. Comments from the qualitative interviews revealed strengths for both delivery modes.
CONCLUSIONS: Although our findings are limited by a non-randomized design, they may suggest weighing feasibility benefits of remote with improved treatment response with in-person delivery regarding mental health outcomes.
Keywords
intervention delivery mode; yoga; thoracic cancer; caregivers
| Abstract submitters declaration | yes |
|---|---|
| Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval | yes |
