Contributions
Abstract: PB2394
Type: Publication Only
Background
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare hematological malignancies with a significant symptom burden (e.g., fatigue, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, anxiety, etc.) that is often left unresolved despite the recent advances in pharmacologic therapy. Yoga is a non-pharmacologic strategy that has been shown to improve symptom burden in other cancers, with preliminary evidence that online yoga may be effective for improving fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and total symptom burden in MPN patients. Online yoga helps to address many of the commonly reported barriers of cancer patients to in-person interventions and may make yoga more accessible to MPN patients due to the rarity of the disease and limited in-person opportunities for MPN patients. An exploration of MPN patient perceptions of participation in online yoga is needed to tailor interventions to patient needs and inform future studies.
Aims
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of MPN patients participating in a 12-week online yoga intervention.
Methods
This paper represents the combined qualitative interview data gathered from two studies. Participants were asked to complete 60 min/week of online, home-based yoga (via Udaya.com) for 12 weeks. Participants were also asked to participate in a 15-20 min phone interview at post-intervention. The interview consisted of 10 open-ended questions aimed at identifying patient perceptions, attitudes, and feelings towards the yoga intervention. The qualitative data was coded in NVivo 11 for content analysis.
Results
The total sample included 39 MPN patients, of which 87% (n=34/39) were female and the mean age was 60.3+/-7.3 years. Online yoga was well-accepted and liked among MPN patients. MPN patients reported physical and mental health benefits, including improved physical activity levels (n=27/39), reduced fatigue (n=20/39), improved sleep (n=16/39), and reduced stress (n=14/39). Participants liked the convenience and flexibility of being able to do yoga at home (n=21/39). MPN patients also cited some negative aspects of the yoga intervention, including the perceived difficulty of the yoga classes (n=9/39), the lack of feedback and accountability associated with home-based yoga (n=16/39), and some minor technical issues with the streaming of online yoga videos (n=11/39). The majority of MPN patients (n=24/39) had some intention to continue participating in yoga of some form (i.e., online or in-person) and nearly all (n=35/39) would recommend yoga for other MPN patients.
Conclusion
Online yoga provides a feasible and attractive format through which to deliver a non-pharmacologic intervention for symptom management among MPN patients. Although the overall yoga intervention was perceived positively by MPN patient participants, opportunities for improvements in the delivery were identified. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effects of online yoga on MPN patient symptom burden. The qualitative findings presented here may help to inform the development and design of future trials.
Session topic: 36. Quality of life, palliative care, ethics and health economics
Keyword(s): Cancer, Myeloproliferative disorder, Quality of Life
Abstract: PB2394
Type: Publication Only
Background
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare hematological malignancies with a significant symptom burden (e.g., fatigue, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, anxiety, etc.) that is often left unresolved despite the recent advances in pharmacologic therapy. Yoga is a non-pharmacologic strategy that has been shown to improve symptom burden in other cancers, with preliminary evidence that online yoga may be effective for improving fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and total symptom burden in MPN patients. Online yoga helps to address many of the commonly reported barriers of cancer patients to in-person interventions and may make yoga more accessible to MPN patients due to the rarity of the disease and limited in-person opportunities for MPN patients. An exploration of MPN patient perceptions of participation in online yoga is needed to tailor interventions to patient needs and inform future studies.
Aims
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of MPN patients participating in a 12-week online yoga intervention.
Methods
This paper represents the combined qualitative interview data gathered from two studies. Participants were asked to complete 60 min/week of online, home-based yoga (via Udaya.com) for 12 weeks. Participants were also asked to participate in a 15-20 min phone interview at post-intervention. The interview consisted of 10 open-ended questions aimed at identifying patient perceptions, attitudes, and feelings towards the yoga intervention. The qualitative data was coded in NVivo 11 for content analysis.
Results
The total sample included 39 MPN patients, of which 87% (n=34/39) were female and the mean age was 60.3+/-7.3 years. Online yoga was well-accepted and liked among MPN patients. MPN patients reported physical and mental health benefits, including improved physical activity levels (n=27/39), reduced fatigue (n=20/39), improved sleep (n=16/39), and reduced stress (n=14/39). Participants liked the convenience and flexibility of being able to do yoga at home (n=21/39). MPN patients also cited some negative aspects of the yoga intervention, including the perceived difficulty of the yoga classes (n=9/39), the lack of feedback and accountability associated with home-based yoga (n=16/39), and some minor technical issues with the streaming of online yoga videos (n=11/39). The majority of MPN patients (n=24/39) had some intention to continue participating in yoga of some form (i.e., online or in-person) and nearly all (n=35/39) would recommend yoga for other MPN patients.
Conclusion
Online yoga provides a feasible and attractive format through which to deliver a non-pharmacologic intervention for symptom management among MPN patients. Although the overall yoga intervention was perceived positively by MPN patient participants, opportunities for improvements in the delivery were identified. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effects of online yoga on MPN patient symptom burden. The qualitative findings presented here may help to inform the development and design of future trials.
Session topic: 36. Quality of life, palliative care, ethics and health economics
Keyword(s): Cancer, Myeloproliferative disorder, Quality of Life