Integrative Medicine for Patient-reported Outcomes, Values, and Experience (IMPROVE)
Summary
The overarching long-term goal of the Integrative Medicine for Patient-reported Outcomes Values and Experience (IMPROVE) research program is to evaluate whether integrating a virtual mind-body programming, Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@Home), will improve patient perceived values, outcomes, and experiences as they undergo systemic cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted agents, cytoreductive surgery.
Arms & interventions
- BehavioralIM@Home
Participants in the IM@Home group will receive a 12-week virtual, synchronous, mind-body and fitness program. The Classes will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing platform. Patients will choose from a variety of weekly classes, occurring one to four times per week. An Integrative Medicine Service (IMS) clinical therapist (e.g., licensed dance therapist, certified yoga instructor, nurse specialist/physical trainer) with specific expertise in the oncology setting will lead each session. Activities range from more movement-based (fitness, yoga, dance therapy, or tai chi) to meditative-based classes (meditation, guided meditation, or music therapy). All clinicians will provide an overview of the session, 25 to 40 minutes of content, and five minutes for feedback and discussion. Each class lasts 30 to 45 minutes with optional audio or video participant participation and group chat.
- BehavioralEnhanced usual care
Patients in the enhanced usual care will receive usual care. In addition, once enrolling into the trial, they will be given a handout to encourage them to visit the MSK's multimedia page on the Integrative Medicine website to access pre-recorded, on-demand meditation audio or video recordings for meditation, guided imagery, and relaxation.
Outcome measures
Primary
Average Fatigue Severity from the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)
Primary outcome will be measured by the average fatigue severity measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). The BFI is a 9-item instrument designed to assess one construct of fatigue severity in cancer and non-cancer populations. Three items ask patients to rate the severity of their fatigue at its "worst," "usual," and "now" during normal waking hours, with 0 being "no fatigue" and 10 being "fatigue as bad as you can imagine." Six items assess the amount that fatigue has interfered with different aspects of the patient's life during the past 24 hours. The interference items are measured on a 0-10 scale, with 0 being "does not interfere" and 10 being "completely interferes."59 A composite fatigue severity score can be found by averaging the 9 item scores.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Secondary
Symptom intensity as measured by Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Insomnia severity as measured by Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Effect of treatments on psychological distress as measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Pain as measured by Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Scale v1.2 - Global Health
Time frame: 12 weeks
Participants treatment outcome expectancy as measured by Mao Expectancy of Treatment Effects (METE)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Satisfaction of intervention
Time frame: 12 weeks
Recommendation of Intervention to Others
Time frame: 12 weeks
Number of Treatment Disruptions
Time frame: 12 weeks
Number of Unplanned medical visits
Time frame: 12 weeks
Participant Attendance to IM@Home Sessions
Time frame: 12 weeks
Eligibility criteria
Study locations (7)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (Limited Protocol Activities)
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited Protocol Activities)
Middletown, New Jersey, 07748
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities)
Montvale, New Jersey, 07645
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @ Suffolk - Commack (Limited Protocol Activities)
Commack, New York, 11725
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (Limited Protocol Activities)
Harrison, New York, 10604
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, 10065
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activities)
Uniondale, New York, 11553
References
- Bryl KL, Silverwood S, Desai K, Schobert K, Li X, Chimonas S, Mao JJ, Gillespie EF. Benefits and Challenges of a Digital Exercise and Mind-Body Program During Active Cancer Treatment: Qualitative Study of Patients' Perceptions. JMIR Cancer. 2026 Jan 16;12:e80075. doi: 10.2196/80075.(PubMed)
- Mao JJ, Bryl K, Gillespie EF, Green A, Hung TKW, Baser R, Panageas K, Postow MA, Daly B. Randomized clinical trial of a digital integrative medicine intervention among patients undergoing active cancer treatment. NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 14;8(1):29. doi: 10.1038/s41746-024-01387-z.(PubMed)