Yoga Therapy in Cancer Care via Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Details
Title: Yoga Therapy in Cancer Care via Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Smitha Mallaiah MSc, Santhosshi Narayanan MD, Richard Wagner PhD, Chiara Cohen, Aimee J. Christie MS, PhD, Eduardo Bruera MD, Gabriel Lopez MD, Lorenzo Cohen PhD
Source: Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol 21 (2022)
Publisher Information: SAGE Publishing, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
Description: Background: Yoga is an evidence-based mind-body practice known to improve physical and mental health in cancer patients. We report on the processes and patient-reported outcomes of one-on-one yoga therapy (YT) consultations delivered via telehealth. Methods: For patients completing a YT consultation between March 2020 and October 2021, we examined demographics, reasons for referral, and self-reported symptom burden before and after one YT session using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). Changes in ESAS symptom and subscale scores [physical distress (PHS), psychological distress (PSS), and global distress (GDS)] were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. Results: Ninety-seven initial YT consults were completed, with data evaluated for 95 patient encounters. The majority were women (83.2%) and white (75.8%), The mean age for females was 54.0 and for males was 53.4; the most common diagnosis was breast cancer (48%), 32.6% had metastatic disease, and nearly half (48.4%) were employed full-time. Mental health (43.0%) was the most common reason for referral, followed by fatigue (13.2%) and sleep disturbances (11.7%). The highest symptoms at baseline were sleep disturbance (4.3), followed by anxiety (3.7) and fatigue (3.5). YT lead to clinically and statistically significant reductions in PHS (mean change = −3.1, P
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1552-695X
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1552-695X
DOI: 10.1177/15347354221141094
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/e563251c3eb04688bd9a8c0ce7550505
Accession Number: edsdoj.563251c3eb04688bd9a8c0ce7550505
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Description
ISSN:1552695X
DOI:10.1177/15347354221141094