Effects of Hatha Yoga on caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of a Hatha Yoga intervention on anxiety, subjective well-being, and attention levels of caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer, admitted to a public hospital in the city of Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed. Thirty-six volunteers were allocated to clinical (participated in 4 to 6 Hatha Yoga practices) or control groups and answered the questionnaires State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Subjective Well-Being Scale, and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale before and after the intervention period. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon nonparametric analyses were performed to compare the groups to each other and at different moments. Results: The individuals' moderate anxiety state decreased in the clinical (p = 0.001) and control (p = 0.014) groups so that while the control group continued to present moderate anxiety, the clinical group presented low anxiety after the intervention. Positive affects increased, and adverse effects decreased in the clinical group (p <0.05). There were no relevant changes in satisfaction with life and attention levels in the two groups (p> 0.05). Conclusion and implications for practice: Hatha Yoga is a useful tool for healthcare professionals and caregivers in short-term hospital care to reduce anxiety and improve subjective well-being.

Effectiveness of multimedia education for reducing anxiety among caregivers of children and adolescents undergoing chemotherapy: Randomized controlled trial protocol

“…Educational technologies are being gradually inserted in the context of pediatric oncology, requiring further discussion of the benefits of their use for caregivers of children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Resources that can help in the acquisition of knowledge in a playful way are essential for the effectiveness of cancer treatment [ 20 ].…”

“…Sample size calculation was performed using the G Power software, version 3.1.9.2 (available at: http://www.gpower.hhu.de/ ). The calculation was performed considering the study by Bernardi et al [ 20 ] that evaluated the IDATE score in caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer. Thus, considering the Cohen effect size of 0.80, test power of 0.80 and significance level of 5% (p-value < 0.05), the study had 26 participants in the Control Group (CG) and 26 participants in the Experimental Group (EG), totaling a sample of 52 study participants.…”

Effects of a yoga-based stress reduction intervention on stress, psychological outcomes and cardiometabolic biomarkers in cancer caregivers: A randomized controlled trial

“…Our study is the first to examine the efficacy of a six-week yoga-based stress reduction intervention to improve perceived stress, psychological outcomes, and cardiometabolic health, as measured by novel NMR lipoprotein particle concentration and size, in HSCT caregivers. Multiple studies using yoga-based meditation and mindfulness interventions have shown beneficial effects on stress and psychological symptoms [ 12 – 14 , 31 – 33 ]. However, no other study reported cardiometabolic outcomes in caregivers.…”

“…However, there are some conflicting reports regarding yoga-based intervention’s impact on psychological outcomes. Some studies showed beneficial results in psychological outcomes, such as depression and anxiety [ 12 – 14 , 31 – 33 ], while other studies did not observe significant changes in these outcomes [ 34 , 35 ]. One possible reason for the difference in findings between previous research and this study may be attributed to the relatively short-term intervention.…”

The Psychological and Biological Benefits of Mind-Body Therapy Interventions for Informal Caregivers of Individuals With Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…The sample sizes in these studies ranged from 20 to 75 informal caregivers of individuals with cancer. Of the 11 articles, 6 were conducted in the United States, [30][31][32][33][34][35] 1 in Brazil, 36 1 in China, 37 1 in Iran, 38 1 in the Netherlands, 39 and 1 in Greece. 40…”