A Pragmatic Evaluation of Symptom Distress After Group Meditation for Cancer Patients and Caregivers: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

A single meditation group class offered as part of clinical care resulted in relief of multiple self-reported symptoms in both patients and caregivers.

Effects of Center-Based Delivery of Tai Chi and Qi Gong Group Classes on Self-Reported Symptoms in Cancer Patients and Caregivers

“…Examination of change scores from baseline should help to account for these differences, but conducting the analyses examining postclass levels controlling for baseline (regressor variable approach) might provide additional useful information. However, to be consistent with some of our other studies, 22,23 and for ease of comparison and interpretation, we used the change score approach. Although future research could randomize patients to the different classes, the purpose here was to assess the outcomes in a real-world clinical setting.…”

Palliative care considerations and practices for adolescents and young adults with cancer

“…21 Issues related to race/ethnicity, gender, religion, immigrant status, education level, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and indigenous heritage are just a few of the cultural factors that can impact treatment and the experience of care. [22][23][24] Furthermore, these factors may also play a part in how AYAs and their families view illness, death, the medical system, and decisions 25,26 about the care provided at EOL. 27,28 Developmentally, it is appropriate for AYAs to start exploring what values and belief systems are important to them, which may differ from those of their family of origin.…”

“…Cultural humility is described as an others‐oriented stance that aims to foster mutual partnerships that attend to power imbalances with interpersonal respect and openness to new cultural information, self‐examination of cultural awareness, and an enthusiasm for learning from others while allowing them to be the expert of their own experience 21 . Issues related to race/ethnicity, gender, religion, immigrant status, education level, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and indigenous heritage are just a few of the cultural factors that can impact treatment and the experience of care 22–24 . Furthermore, these factors may also play a part in how AYAs and their families view illness, death, the medical system, and decisions 25,26 about the care provided at EOL 27,28 .…”

“…For many patients and families, being given the choice to plan is just as important as the location itself. AYA patients most often prioritize their relationships with others when making EOL decisions, in addition to directing their medical treatment, defining their care plans, the information their family and friends receive, and how they wish to be remembered 5–57,59–61 . Parents of critically ill children who planned the location of death achieved a home death 72% of the time compared to only 8% of those who did not plan 46 .…”

3-Doors Compassion Project: Examining the longitudinal effects of a nine-month Tibetan mind-body meditation program

“…Prior research on TMB practices implemented within medical facilities has demonstrated beneficial outcomes for cancer patients (Chaoul et al, 2014). Although the methodological strength (i.e., pilot study versus randomized trial), format for TMB intervention (i.e., single-session versus seven-session), and cancer type (i.e., lung, lymphoma, breast) varies, implementation of these practices has evidenced improvements of cancer patients' well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, cancer-related distress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and spiritual well-being (Chaoul et al, 2018;Cohen et al, 2004;Lopez et al, 2018;Milbury et al, 2013Milbury et al, , 2015Milbury et al, , 2018. These interventions included mindful breathing meditation, breathings (9 breathings of purification), and Tibetan yogic movements from the Tsa Lungchannels-breath exercises from the Mother Tantra and the Trul Khor magical movements from the Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung (Wangyal, 2006(Wangyal, , 2011a(Wangyal, , 2011b(Wangyal, , 2015.…”