Applying Eastern Body-Mind-Spirit intervention in lung cancer care: Preliminary evidence from a parallel group intervention with patients and caregivers

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Despite the high incidence and mortality of lung cancer, systematic psychosocial care directed to the cancer remained scarce. Inspired from how Eastern philosophies (e.g., Daoism, Traditional Chinese medicine) approach life challenges, the integrative body-mind-spirit (I-BMS) intervention was developed to enhance the quality of life of patients and caregivers through fostering dynamic balance among spirituality, bodily strength and emotional wellness. In this study, for the first time, the I-BMS intervention was adopted on families confronting lung cancer.

Methods: Patients with lung cancer were recruited together with a family caregiver. Dyads attended eight weekly 3-hour sessions of I-BMS intervention using a parallel group approach with 8 to 10 participants per group. Both patients and family member fill in a batch of questionnaire before and after the intervention. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the pre- and post-intervention outcomes.

Results: 65 dyads attended the intervention and 56 returned the post-intervention questionnaire. Results show that, among the patients, quality of life (ts > -2.83, ps < .007), non-attachment (t = -2.72, p = .009), general vitality (t = 3.79, p < .001) and spiritual self-care (t = -2.57, p = .013) improved; while death anxiety (t = 3.69, p = .001), depression (t = 5.56, p < .001), anxiety (t = 3.85, p < .001) and insomnia (t = 3.04, p = .004) decreased. Among the caregivers, quality of life (t = -4.13, p < .001), anxiety (t = 2.37, p = .021), emotional vulnerability (t = 2.54, p = .014) improved. However, perceived lack of family support increased (t = -2.90, p = .006), while self-esteem decreased (t = 2.21, p = 031) too.

Conclusions: Our findings provide preliminary support to the efficacy of I-BMS intervention in improving multidimensional adjustment of families facing lung cancer.