Background While the use of behavioral medicine in managing glioma patients’ symptoms is not well studied, the high symptom burden in patients and their family caregivers is well established. We conducted a pilot randomized, controlled trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a dyadic yoga (DY) intervention as a supportive care strategy. Methods Glioma patients undergoing radiotherapy and their caregivers were randomized to a 12-session DY or waitlist control (WLC) group. Prior to radiotherapy and randomization, both groups completed measures of cancer-related symptoms (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor module), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression measure), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and overall quality of life (QOL; Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form survey). Dyads were reassessed at the last day of radiotherapy. Results Twenty patients (mean age: 46 years, 50% female, 80% WHO grade IV and caregivers (mean age: 50 years, 70% female, 50% spouses) participated in the trial. A priori feasibility criteria were met regarding consent (70%), adherence (88%), and retention (95%) rates. Controlling for relevant covariates, change score analyses revealed clinically significant improvements for patients in the DY compared with the WLC group for overall cancer symptom severity (d = 0.96) and symptom interference (d = 0.74), depressive symptoms (d = 0.71), and mental QOL (d = 0.69). Caregivers in the DY group reported clinically significant improvements in depressive symptoms (d = 1.12), fatigue (d = 0.89), and mental QOL (d = 0.49) relative to those in the WLC group. Conclusion A DY intervention appears to be a feasible and beneficial symptom and QOL management strategy for glioma patients undergoing radiotherapy and their caregivers. An efficacy trial with a more stringent control group is warranted. Clinical Trial Number NCT02481349

Background: Despite their high symptom burden and poor prognosis, evidence-based supportive care interventions for adults with high-grade glioma (HGG) and their caregivers are lacking. Thus, we aimed to establish feasibility of a patient-caregiver dyadic yoga program (DYP) for newly diagnosed HGG patients and their family caregivers targeting quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes. Method: In this single-arm pilot trial, dyads participated in a 12-session DYP program across the course of patients’ radiotherapy. The intervention focused on breathing exercises, gentle movements, and guided meditations. We tracked feasibility data and assessed levels of cancer-related symptoms (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory [MDASI]), depressive symptoms (Centers for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), and overall mental and physical QOL (36-item Short-Form Survey [SF-36]) at baseline and post-DYP, which was at the end of radiotherapy. Results: We approached 6 dyads of which 5 dyads (86%) consented and completed all 12 sessions and pre/post assessments. All patients (mean age: 52 years, 80% female, 80% grade IV) and caregivers (mean age: 58 years, 80% female, 60% spouses) perceived benefit from the program. Paired t tests revealed a marginally significant, yet clinically meaningful, decrease in patient’s cancer symptoms (t = 2.32, P = .08; MDASI mean; pre = 1.75, post = 1.04). There were clinically significant reductions in patient sleep disturbances (PSQI mean: pre = 10.75, post = 8.00) and improvements in patient and caregiver mental QOL (MCS of SF-36 mean: pre = 42.35, post = 52.34, and pre = 45.14, post = 51.43, respectively). Conclusions: This novel supportive care program appears to be safe, feasible, acceptable, and subjectively useful for HGG patients and their caregivers. There was also preliminary evidence regarding QOL treatment gains for both patients and caregivers.

BACKGROUND Although yoga practice may improve quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients, feasibility in patients with lung cancer is largely unknown. Moreover, previous research has excluded patients’ family caregivers. Because caregivers are vulnerable to caregiver burden, a dyadic approach targeting QOL in both patient and caregiver may be particularly beneficial. Thus, the purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of a couple-based Vivekananda Yoga (VKC) intervention in lung cancer patients and caregivers. Vivekananda Yoga may be suitable for a dyadic approach and address the multifaceted needs (e.g., emotional, physical, spiritual, and social) common among families coping with lung cancer. METHOD In this single-arm feasibility trial, patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy and their caregivers participated in a 15-session VKC program focused on the interconnectedness of the dyad. The program consisted of four main components: 1) joint loosening with breath synchronization; 2) postures (asanas) and a deep relaxation technique; 3) breath energization (pranayama) with sound resonance; and 4) meditation. We assessed pre/post-intervention levels of fatigue (BFI), sleep disturbances (PSQI), psychological distress (BSI), overall mental and physical QOL (SF-36), spirituality (FACT-Sp) and relational closeness. We also 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. No adverse events were reported. 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 (range: 4–14) and 95.5% of them rated the program as very useful. Paired t-tests revealed a significant increase in patients’ mental health (d=.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=.65 and .37, respectively). For caregivers, medium effects were found for improvement in physical functioning (d=.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 in a larger randomized controlled trial.

Objective Thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) may result in toxicities that are associated with performance declines and poor quality of life (QOL) for patients and their family caregivers. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to establish feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a dyadic yoga (DY) intervention as a supportive care strategy. Methods Patients with stage I to III non‐small cell lung or esophageal cancer undergoing TRT and their caregivers (N = 26 dyads) were randomized to a 15‐session DY or a waitlist control (WLC) group. Prior to TRT and randomization, both groups completed measures of QOL (SF‐36) and depressive symptoms (CES‐D). Patients also completed the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT). Dyads were reassessed on the last day of TRT and 3 months later. Results A priori feasibility criteria were met regarding consent (68%), adherence (80%), and retention (81%) rates. Controlling for relevant covariates, multilevel modeling analyses revealed significant clinical improvements for patients in the DY group compared with the WLC group for the 6MWT (means: DY = 473 m vs WLC = 397 m, d = 1.19) and SF‐36 physical function (means: DY = 38.77 vs WLC = 30.88; d = .66) and social function (means: DY = 45.24 vs WLC = 39.09; d = .44) across the follow‐up period. Caregivers in the DY group reported marginally clinically significant improvements in SF‐36 vitality (means: DY = 53.05 vs WLC = 48.84; d = .39) and role performance (means: DY = 52.78 vs WLC = 48.59; d = .51) relative to those in the WLC group. Conclusions This novel supportive care program appears to be feasible and beneficial for patients undergoing TRT and their caregivers. A larger efficacy trial with a more stringent control group is warranted.

Background. Complementary and integrative health approaches such as yoga provide support for psychosocial health. We explored the effects of group-based yoga classes offered through an integrative medicine center at a comprehensive cancer center. Methods. Patients and caregivers had access to two yoga group classes: a lower intensity (YLow) or higher intensity (YHigh) class. Participants completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS; scale 0-10, 10 most severe) immediately before and after the class. ESAS subscales analyzed included global (GDS; score 0-90), physical (PHS; 0-60), and psychological distress (PSS; 0-20). Data were analyzed examining pre-yoga and post-yoga symptom scores using paired t-tests and between types of classes using ANOVAs. Results. From July 18, 2016, to August 8, 2017, 282 unique participants (205 patients, 77 caregivers; 85% female; ages 20-79 years) attended one or more yoga groups (mean 2.3). For all participants, we observed clinically significant reduction/improvement in GDS, PHS, and PSS scores and in symptoms (ESAS decrease ≥1; means) of anxiety, fatigue, well-being, depression, appetite, drowsiness, and sleep. Clinically significant improvement for both patients and caregivers was observed for anxiety, depression, fatigue, well-being, and all ESAS subscales. Comparing yoga groups, YLow contributed to greater improvement in sleep versus YHigh (−1.33 vs −0.50, P = .054). Improvement in fatigue for YLow was the greatest mean change (YLow −2.12). Conclusion. A single yoga group class resulted in clinically meaningful improvement of multiple self-reported symptoms. Further research is needed to better understand how yoga class content, intensity, and duration can affect outcomes.