Integrating ayurveda rasayana therapy with standard of care therapies in patients with glioblastoma multiforme improves caregivers' quality of life: A prospective study.

Abstract

e24001 Background: Caregivers of cancer patients frequently suffer from poor quality of life (QoL) due to stress related to caregiving. This stress is more severe in patients with very aggressive cancer which has the potential to negatively affect patients' functional independence. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incurable disease with a poor prognosis. For caregivers of patients with glioblastoma, the burden of care can be high. Integration of conventional therapy with unconventional complimentary therapies which improves Patient reported outcome measures (PROM) can significantly improve caregivers' quality of life. Hence there is a great scope of integrative therapies while treating GBM patients. The present study was conducted with an aim of evaluating the impact of an Integrative cancer care program consisting of Ayurveda and Conventional standard of care in caregivers of patients with GBM. Methods: Caregivers of patients with high-grade GBM who opted for Ayurveda Rasayana therapy after a minimum of three months of starting conventional care for GBM were included in the study. Caregiver's Quality of life was evaluated using Caregiver’s QoL score (CarGOQoL) questionnaire at baseline and after 30, 60 and 90 days of initiating the Rasayana therapy. Results: The study included 21 male and 23 female caregivers with mean age 50.8 (±2.73) years. A total of 44 patients were included at baseline whereas at the sample size at day 30,60 and 90 were 40, 37, and 33 respectively. The CarGOQoL scores showed statistically significant improvement on day 30 ( P < 0.05) which further improved on day 60 ( P< 0.01) and then remained stable (Day 60 compared with day 90 P > 0.05) on day 90. Conclusions: Caregivers of GBM showed improved QoL after integrating Ayurveda Rasayana therapy with conventional Standard of care therapies. Complimentary therapies that are known to improve PROMs in cancer patients can directly impact caregivers' QoL. Hence the possibility of an integrative approach should always be explored while treating GBM patients.