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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Anna-leila Williams, PA-C, MPH1, Peter Selwyn, MD, MPH2, Beth Comerford, MA1, Lauren Liberti, MS1, Ruth McCorkle, MA, PhD3, and David L. Katz4. (1) Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418, 203-732-1265, anna-leila.williams@yalegriffinprc.org, (2) Family Medicine and Community Health, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 3544 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467, (3) School of Nursing, Yale University, 100 Church St., New Haven, CT 06510, (4) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8034
This presentation will describe a randomized, double-blind, controlled 2 x 2 factorial trial of meditation with and without massage for adults with end-stage AIDS. The study, funded by the National Institute of Health, began November 2001 and will conclude April 2003 with a projected total enrollment of 80 subjects. To date 22 subjects, residents of an AIDS-dedicated skilled nursing facility in Connecticut, have been enrolled and randomized to receive meditation, massage, combined meditation and massage, or standard care (control). The meditation group receives instruction by an expert in the technique, followed by self-administration with audiocassettes. The massage group receives massage 5 days/week. The combined group receives both interventions. The control groups receive standard care, including on-site medical and nursing care, social services, and physical, occupational, and recreational therapy. Using the Missoula-Vitas Quality-of-Life survey, a validated end-of-life instrument, an interim analysis of subjects reveals significant improvement in the spiritual domain for the massage (p=0.0108), meditation (p=0.0114) and combined (p=0.0108) groups as compared to control. Prior literature indicates meditation is promising as an intervention uniquely suited to meet spiritual needs at end of life. However, meditation alone may not be sufficient to compensate for the benefits of physical contact. Among patients with AIDS subject to a sense of isolation and alienation, the benefits of meditation could be blunted unless the need for physical contact is also addressed. This study is exploring whether the benefits of meditation and massage are independent, additive, or synergistic. Preliminary results indicate the promise of important treatment effects.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Alternative Medicine/Therapies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.