Feasibility, Acceptability, and Safety of a Virtually Adapted Yoga and Mindfulness Wellness Program for Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury or Stroke and Their Caregivers at a Level 1 Trauma Center: A Quality Improvement Project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v10.564Keywords:
Caregivers, quality improvement programs, stroke, traumatic brain injury, virtual meditation, virtual yogaAbstract
Background. Individuals in the outpatient public health setting with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke experience ongoing symptoms with diminished quality of life. Research suggests that yoga and mindfulness can be helpful in addressing these symptoms. However, little is known about the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of using virtually deployed integrative approaches in public health for TBI and stroke.
Methods: The participants were medically and psychiatrically stable outpatients with TBI and stroke survivors and/or caregivers. The 6-week “LoveYourBrain” yoga program was adapted for virtual delivery. Participants and program facilitators provided pre- and post-quantitative and qualitative feedback to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the program. Data analysis was conducted with mean satisfaction scores and qualitative content analysis.
Results. Among 46 participants who were registered over 13 months, 35 participated in at least one out of six sessions (TBI=21, stroke=9, caregiver=5); 23 participants completed at least four sessions. Participants with TBI were younger (mean age: 47 years) than caregivers (mean age: 64 years). Among the participants, 63% were one to five years post-injury. Overall participant satisfaction was rated 9.16 out of 10. Facilitator satisfaction was also high, 9.0 out of 10 (SD-0.71). Minimal adverse events were noted, and only one participant required study outreach without injury. Content analysis themes revealed five themes: physical and mental health, ease of participation, resilience, and community.
Conclusions: A novel virtual yoga and mindfulness program for TBI and stroke in the public health setting was found to be feasible, acceptable, and safe. This program showed promise for addressing chronic symptom burden and improving the quality of life. Further investigation is warranted.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Michele Diaz Nelson, PhD, MS, RN, Christina Weyer-Jamora, RN, PhD, CBIST
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Telehealth and Medicine Today (THMT).
THMT is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
