ASPO Abstracts
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Dyadic Yoga Program for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy and their Family Caregivers
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Background: Radiotherapy (RT) to treat head and neck cancer (HNC) may result in debilitating toxicities and functional problems. Yoga therapy delivered concurrently to RT may buffer against treatment-related sequelae. The purpose of this pilot RCT was to establish feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a yoga intervention. Because family caregivers report low caregiving efficacy and high levels of distress, we included them in this trial as active study participants.Methods: HNC patients undergoing ≥25 fractions of RT and their caregivers were randomized to a 15-session yoga intervention or a usual care control (UC) group. Prior to RT and randomization, both groups completed standard quality of life (QOL) self-report (SF-36) and cervical range of motion (CROM) measures. Patients’ weight loss and health utilization was documented over the course of RT. QOL and CROM was reassessed within 1 week of completing RT. Results: We approached 70 eligible dyads of which 50 (71%) consented, 44 were randomized and 41 (93%) completed all assessments. Patients (mean age: 60.3 yrs., 31% female) and caregivers (mean age: 58.7 yrs., 76% female, 78% spouses) completed a mean of 13.2 sessions (range 8-15), and all of them rated the program as “very useful.” Opening-ended acceptability items were positive. Change scores controlling for relevant covariates revealed significant group differences in patients’ weight loss during the last week of RT so that patients in the yoga group maintained more weight than the control group (Yoga: -3.28 kg vs UC: -6.97 kg; P<.05). Patients in the yoga group were significantly less likely to undergo a feeding tube placement and be admitted to the hospital relative to the UC group (both P<.05). Patients in the yoga group demonstrated improved CROM compared with the UC group (P<.01). Compared to the UC group, the yoga group reported clinically significant better QOL in the domains of emotional and social function for patients and physical role function for caregivers. Conclusion: Yoga therapy appears to be a feasible, acceptable, and possibly efficacious behavioral supportive care strategy for HNC patients undergoing RT. A larger efficacy trial with a more stringent control group is warranted.
Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Yoga TherapyQuality of Life Family Caregivers