ABSTRACT
The primary objectives of this pilot study were to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week virtual group drumming intervention for patients recently receiving active cancer treatment and reporting moderate or greater fatigue and/or anxiety. Secondary objectives investigated the potential impact of group drumming on fatigue- and anxiety-severity levels. We also evaluated positive affect and flow-state (level of absorption in the activity) in the drumming intervention. Acceptability and perception of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on group experience were evaluated.The study pivoted from in-person delivery to virtual delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 cancer patients were randomized into the group drumming intervention or an attention control consisting of a group-educational film series. The drumming protocol was designed by music therapists using the theory of rhythmic entrainment.Feasibility was evaluated by rates of accrual, retention, and session-attendance. Acceptability was evaluated by participant interview. Anxiety was measured by STAI;fatigue by FACIT-F. Longitudinal data analysis with random effects was utilized to model the change in outcome scores over time. Feasibility results included a 76.9% accrual rate, 95% study retention, 92% attendance rate for drumming, and 93% for attendance rate the attention control. Over 8 weeks, both groups significantly improved on fatigue (drumming p = .006;attention control p = .034) and anxiety (drumming p = .013;attention control p = .047). There was no difference between the groups in level of improvement for either symptom. Intervention participants were positive about virtual drumming (9.5 mean score out of 10 rating) and positive affect scores improved (p = .04) but not flow states. Both groups reported moderate levels of concern about the pandemic but did not think these concerns affected their evaluation of the group or symptom levels. A virtual group drumming intervention is feasible for and acceptable to cancer patients. Both groups improved on fatigue and anxiety scores-potentially because both interventions helped to address social isolation during the pandemic. Alternatively, there may be therapeutic benefit derived from both drumming and film-viewing. Further study is needed to determine the value of the intervention post-pandemic and to determine the efficacy of group drumming for improving cancer-related symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) Online Task Force was created in response to the challenges facing continuity of integrative oncology care resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force set out to guide integrative oncology practitioners in providing effective and safe online consultations and treatments for quality-of-life-concerns and symptom management. Online treatments include manual, acupuncture, movement, mind-body, herbal, and expressive art therapies. METHODS: The SIO Online Practice Recommendations employed a four-phase consensus process: (1) literature review and discussion among an international panel of SIO members, identifying key elements essential in an integrative oncology visit; (2) development, testing, and refinement of a questionnaire defining challenges and strategies; (3) refinement input from integrative oncology experts from 19 countries; and (4) SIO Executive Committee review identifying the most high-priority challenges and strategies. RESULTS: The SIO Online Practice Recommendations address ten challenges, providing practical suggestions for online treatment/consultation. These include overcoming unfamiliarity, addressing resistance among patients and healthcare practitioners to online consultation/treatment, exploring ethical and medical-legal aspects, solving technological issues, preparing the online treatment setting, starting the online treatment session, maintaining effective communication, promoting specific treatment effects, involving the caregiver, concluding the session, and ensuring continuity of care. CONCLUSIONS: The SIO Online Practice Recommendations are relevant for ensuring continuity of care beyond the present pandemic. They can be implemented for patients with limited accessibility to integrative oncology treatments due to geographic constraints, financial difficulties, physical disability, or an unsupportive caregiver. These recommendations require further study in practice settings.