Feasibility study of using blue-light blocking glasses to improve quality of life for cancer patients

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Gyllenhaal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Blue Light ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Improve Quality

Meditation to Reduce Stress and Improve Quality of Life: A Feasibility Study

EXPLORE ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Dietlind Wahner-Roedler ◽  
Tony Chon ◽  
Laura Loehrer ◽  
Amit Sood
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Improve Quality

Verbessert körperliche Aktivität während der Chemotherapie die Lebensqualität von Krebspatienten?

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-97
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Körperliche Aktivität ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
European Organisation ◽  
Metabolisches Äquivalent

Hintergrund: Fortschritte in der Krebstherapie haben zur Verlängerung der Überlebenszeit geführt. Dennoch beeinträchtigen Tumorsymptome und Nebenwirkungen immer noch die körperliche Aktivität und Lebensqualität (LQ). Patienten und Methoden: Wir führten eine anonyme Umfrage unter Krebspatienten durch, die sich zu der Zeit einer Chemotherapie unterzogen. Dabei verwendeten wir standardisierte Fragebögen: den Freiburger Fragebogen zur körperlichen Aktivität und den EORTC-Fragebogen QLQ-C30 (EORTC = European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer). Zwei wichtige Fragen wurden untersucht: Gibt es Unterschiede 1) hinsichtlich der körperlichen Aktivität und LQ von Patienten, die nicht glauben, dass Sport ihre LQ verbessern könnte, und solchen, die dies glauben (Gruppe A vs. B), und 2) hinsichtlich der LQ von Patienten mit einer Gesamtaktivität (GA) von <18 MET-h/Woche (MET = metabolisches Äquivalent) und solchen mit einer GA von ≥18 MET-h/Woche (Gruppe C vs. D)? Ergebnisse: 276 von 400 Fragebögen wurden ausgefüllt. Die Gruppen A und B wurden in Bezug auf die Merkmale zu Studienbeginn ausbalanciert. Gruppe A litt signifikant häufiger unter Müdigkeit und Schmerzen; in Gruppe B waren höhere Werte für den allgemeinen Gesundheitsstatus (global health status; GHS) und die GA zu verzeichnen. Die Gruppen C und D unterschieden sich in Geschlechterverteilung, Alter und Bildungsgrad. Gruppe D wies signifikant höhere GHS-Werte auf; Gruppe C litt stärker unter Müdigkeit, Schmerzen und Appetitlosigkeit. Schlussfolgerung: Körperliche Aktivität korreliert bei Krebspatienten unter einer Chemotherapie mit einer höheren LQ. Übersetzung aus Kripp M, et al: Does physical activity improve quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy? Oncol Res Treat 2015;38:230-236 (DOI: 10.1159/000381734)

scholarly journals Effects and Implementation of a Mindfulness and Relaxation App for Cancer Patients: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mikolasek ◽  
Claudia Margitta Witt ◽  
Jürgen Barth
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Standard Medical Care ◽  
Related Quality

BACKGROUND A cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment can cause high levels of distress, which is often not sufficiently addressed in standard medical care. Therefore, a variety of supportive non-pharmacological treatments have been suggested to reduce cancer patients’ distress. However, not all patients use those interventions because of limited access or being unaware. To overcome these barriers, mHealth might be a promising way to deliver respective supportive treatments. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate effects and the implementation of a mindfulness and relaxation app intervention for cancer patients as well as patients’ adherence to such an intervention. METHODS In this observational feasibility study with a mixed-methods approach, cancer patients were recruited online and through hospitals in Switzerland. All enrolled patients received access to a mindfulness and relaxation app. Patients completed self-reported outcomes (general health, health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, distress, mindfulness, and fear of progression) at baseline, week 4, 10, and 20. The frequency of app exercise usage was gathered directly through the app in order to assess the adherence of patients. In addition, we conducted interviews with 5 health professionals for their thoughts on the implementation of the app intervention into standard medical care. We analyzed patients’ self-reported outcomes with linear mixed models (LMM) and qualitative data with content analysis. RESULTS A total of 100 cancer patients (74 female) with a mean age of 53.2 (SD 11.6) participated in the study, of which 25 patients used the app regularly until week 20. LMM analyses revealed an improvement in anxiety (P=.04), distress (P<.001), fatigue (P=.01), sleep disturbance (P=.02), quality of life (P=.03), and mindfulness (P<.001) over the course of 20 weeks. Further LMM analyses revealed a larger improvement of distress (P<.001), a moderate improvement of anxiety (P=.001), and depression (P=.03) in patients with high symptom levels at baseline in the respective domains. The interviews revealed that the health professionals perceived the app as a helpful addition to standard care. They also made suggestions for improvements, which could facilitate the implementation and adherence to such an app. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that a mindfulness and relaxation app for cancer patients can be a feasible and effective way to deliver a self-care intervention, especially for highly distressed patients. Future studies should investigate if the appeal of the app can be increased with more content and the effectiveness of such an intervention needs to be tested in a randomized controlled trial. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Prospective Feasibility Study of A Mindfulness-Based Program for Breast Cancer Patients in the Southeastern US

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Salvador ◽  
Phyllis Mark ◽  
Teri Hoenemeyer ◽  
Victoria McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Mindfulness Skills ◽  
Success Criteria

Abstract Background: Mindfulness interventions are effective at improving psychological distress and quality of life in cancer patients. Few mindfulness programs for cancer recovery exist in major cities throughout the Southeastern United States. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for breast cancer patients in Birmingham, Alabama. The secondary objective was to estimate the effectiveness of the modified program by examining changes in patients’ mindfulness skills and quality of life. Methods: This study was a prospective, quasi-experimental feasibility study conducted over 10 months within a university hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Feasibility was achieved if 80% of eligible patients screened chose to enroll in the study and 70% of enrolled patients attended all 8 program sessions. Program effectiveness was estimated by changes in mindfulness and quality of life indicators. These indicators were measured by validated scales administered at pretest, posttest, and 8-week follow-up and assessed with a non-parametric Friedman test. The program curriculum followed a modified version of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR program. Program sessions included sitting meditation, hatha/restorative yoga, and a body-focused attention practice called body scan. There were 3 groups of 2-5 patients.Results: The sample consisted of 12 patients. Forty-four percent (12/27) of eligible patients enrolled in the study, failing to meet recruitment success criteria of 80%; two out of 12 enrolled patients completed all 8 program sessions, resulting in 16.7% (2/12) retention, which fell below the retention success criteria of 70%. However, more than half (66.7%) of participants completed at least 7 sessions. Between baseline and 8-week follow-up, patients demonstrated statistically significant improvements in distress, general wellbeing, and fatigue-related quality of life.Conclusions: Feasibility objectives were not achieved. However, a large majority of participants (66.7%) completed 7 of the 8 program sessions. Program effectiveness was promising for distress, fatigue, and wellbeing. Results warrant further research on MBSR programs for breast cancer patients in Alabama. Future programs should investigate how to increase overall recruitment numbers, focusing on introducing mindfulness concepts to inexperienced populations. Studies should consider hosting sessions in community locations or via telemedicine to improve accessibility.

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