Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Web-Based Mind Body Intervention for Older Dementia Caregivers.
Teresa J Kelechi, Diana Layne, Martina Mueller and 2 others
PMID 38655852WHAT IT FOUND
Most dementia caregivers found a 12-week web-based chair yoga and breathing programme acceptable and safe, but their mood, loneliness, support, quality of life and physical function showed minimal change.
Key findings
0175% completed the 12-week study; 74% were mostly to highly satisfied, 84% intended to continue, and 79% thought it appropriate for wellness.
02Depression, anxiety, loneliness, social support, quality of life and physical function showed minimal change from baseline to 12 weeks.
03All caregivers said they would recommend it, and no adverse events related or possibly related to the intervention were reported.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
No randomisation, comparator or inferential testing was used, so changes from baseline cannot be treated as effects of the intervention. The sample was small and not powered for outcome differences. Participants were mostly white, female, retired and married, limiting generalisability. Caregivers were recruited from support groups that already provide social or emotional assistance, which may explain the lack of change. About half had previously engaged in mind-body activity, which could bias the sample. Thirty-one percent reported technology issues, including connectivity problems and tablet freezing. The study did not include exit interviews to explain participants' experiences.
Declared interests
One author developed the gentle yoga and yogic breathing intervention and is founder and CEO of PranaScience Institute, a small business teaching yoga poses and yogic breathing; the study was supported by a National Institute of Nursing Research supplement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that gentle yoga and yogic breathing improves caregiver depression, anxiety, loneliness, social support, quality of life or physical function. This single-group pilot had no comparator, was not powered for outcome differences, and found minimal changes from baseline to 12 weeks.