Rapid deployment of virtual mind-body interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak: feasibility, acceptability, and implications for future care

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 543 - 546
• Main Authors: Trevino, Kelly M., Raghunathan, Nirupa, Latte-Naor, Shelly, Polubriaginof, Fernanda C. G., Jensen, Claus, Atkinson, Thomas M., Emard, Nicholas, Seluzicki, Christina M., Ostroff, Jamie S., Mao, Jun J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anxiety; Cancer; Care and treatment; Commentary; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Development and progression; Disease Outbreaks; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meditation; Mind-Body Therapies - statistics & numerical data; Music therapy; Neoplasms - psychology; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Pain Medicine; Patient Participation - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation Medicine; Stress; Stress (Psychology); Surveys and Questionnaires; Tai Ji; Telemedicine; Telemedicine - statistics & numerical data; Web portals; Yoga; Yoga; Virtual; Meditation; Stress; Fitness; Cancer
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05740-2

Introduction COVID-19 increased stress levels while reducing access to mind-body services in patients with cancer. We describe the rapid deployment of remotely delivered mind-body services to people with cancer during COVID-19, rates of participation, and acceptability from patients’ perspectives. Methods Eligible participants were patients with cancer age ≥ 18 years enrolled in a single academic cancer center’s online patient portal. Interventions included mind-body group therapy sessions in fitness, meditation, yoga, dance, tai chi, and music delivered using Zoom video conferencing. Sessions were 30–45 min and led by an integrative medicine clinician. Following each session, participants were asked to complete a three-item questionnaire assessing (1) satisfaction with the class session, (2) reduction in stress/anxiety, and (3) likelihood of recommending the class to others. Patients could also provide comments in real-time using the Zoom chat function. Results Among 5948 unique visits, the most frequently attended classes were fitness ( n = 2513, 42.2%) followed by meditation ( n = 1176, 19.8%) and yoga ( n = 909, 15.3%). Of these visits, 3902 (65.6%) had an associated completed questionnaire. Across class types, a large majority of participants reported being extremely satisfied ( n = 3733, 95.7%), experiencing extreme reductions in anxiety/stress ( n = 3268, 83.8%), and being extremely likely to recommend the class to others ( n = 3605, 92.4%). Fitness had the highest endorsement among class types (all p values < 0.001). Themes from the chat responses included gratitude, expressions of helpfulness, and feelings of connection. Conclusion High utilization of and satisfaction with these virtual mind-body services demonstrate the significant potential of remote delivery to facilitate patient access to services.