Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled 2 x 2 Factorial Designs
Purpose:
To determine the effects of meditation, with and without massage, on quality of life among late-stage AIDS patients.
Further Study Details:
Depending on the group to which they were assigned, participants received either a 30-minute massage 5 days/week, a tape of guided loving-kindness and forgiveness meditations for daily use, both massage and the meditations, or none of the above. An end-of-life quality of life measure (survey) was taken at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks, and then every 3 months until the patient expired or the study ended.
Findings:
This study showed significant improvement in overall and spiritual quality of life in patients with AIDS near the end-of-life who received the combined meditation and massage intervention.
Eligibility:
Adult men and women residing at a long term care facility in New Haven, CT (Leeway, Inc.) with a diagnosis of end-stage AIDS.
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center