{"title":"Ayurvedic Interventions for Primary Insomnia in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence and Research Gaps.","authors":"Satyajit Pandurang Kulkarni, Shweta Parwe, Pallavi Satyajit Kulkarni, Shivanand S Tonde","doi":"10.1177/27536130261440317","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261440317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Primary insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder in the elderly, often overlooked in integrative care. Ayurveda defines insomnia as a <i>Vata</i>-dominant condition common in geriatrics.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To critically appraise clinical studies on Ayurvedic management of primary insomnia in elderly populations and identify methodological gaps.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review utilized PubMed, DOAJ, DHARA, AYUSH Research Portal, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and case series, in English, focusing on Ayurvedic treatments for insomnia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions comprised <i>Shirodhara, Nasya, Netratarpana</i>, and herbal therapies like <i>Tagara, Jatamansi, Ashwagandha</i>, and polyherbal formulations. Most reported beneficial outcomes, but only two targeted elderly patients. Limitations included small sample sizes, lack of comparators, and absent trial registration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ayurvedic therapies show promise for insomnia, but high-quality trials in elderly populations are scarce. Future research needs to focus on age-specific efficacy, standardized methodologies, and integration with contemporary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261440317"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13539035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148888995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yan Ma, Wilfred Wing Fung Sin, Kristen M Kraemer, Jojo Yan Yan Kwok, EunMee Yang, Kyeongwon Kim, Macy Randolph, Helen Horan, Janet M Mullington, Peter M Wayne, Gloria Y Yeh
{"title":"Electroencephalography-Based Measures to Understand Meditation and Mindfulness: Bibliometric Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Yan Ma, Wilfred Wing Fung Sin, Kristen M Kraemer, Jojo Yan Yan Kwok, EunMee Yang, Kyeongwon Kim, Macy Randolph, Helen Horan, Janet M Mullington, Peter M Wayne, Gloria Y Yeh","doi":"10.1177/27536130261478126","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261478126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Despite the dramatic growth in the number of clinical trials of meditation and/or mindfulness-based interventions (MMBIs), most trials focus on self-reported or psychological outcomes, less is known about the potential neuroplastic effects of MMBI practice and benefits for brain health. In this review, we aimed to map the extent and nature of existing research on this topic, identify subdomains, and determine the feasibility of conducting further systematic reviews.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a bibliometric scoping review and summarized characteristics of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with electroencephalography (EEG)-based measures for MMBIs, including publication year, country, participant characteristics, sample size, trial arms, intervention duration and components, EEG experimental design, and reported EEG-based outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 3401 retrieved publications through a systematic search, we identified 142 eligible publications from 31 countries. More than half (54.6%) were published in the past five years. Ninety studies (63.4%) included healthy participants. Clinical conditions varied, but the majority included psychiatric/mental disorders, followed by pain or substance use, neurological disorders, sleep disturbances or insomnia, cancer/tumor, and age-related cognitive decline. Most studies focused on cognitive function/performance, memory/learning, executive function, attention/vigilance, sensory/perception, emotional/affective, or distress/stress. The two main types of EEG assessments were spectral analysis and measures from event-related potential.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite the large number of RCTs on MMBIs with EEG outcomes, our synthesis shows significant heterogeneity in study populations, research aims, experimental designs, performed tasks, and reported outcomes. Further systematic reviews and meta-analyses will require accumulation of additional original studies to allow a meaningful focus on specific topics with sufficient amount of evidence. Future research examining neuroplastic effects of MMBI practice utilizing objective physiological EEG-based measures are warranted and encouraged to advance the mind-body field.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261478126"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527371/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148868117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Response to Letter to Editor by A.B. Algarin on the \"the Whole Person Health Index, a Self-Reported Tool to Assess Whole Person Health\".","authors":"Helene M Langevin, Mark H Pitcher","doi":"10.1177/27536130261481169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130261481169","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261481169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13499928/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148809425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Heaslip, Annie Hawton, Elizabeth Goodwin, Katy Szczepura, Kerry Barrass
{"title":"Impact of a Cultural Heritage Therapy Programme on the Mental Health of People Living With a Mental Illness; a Mixed Methods Evaluation Incorporating Economic Evaluation Methods.","authors":"Vanessa Heaslip, Annie Hawton, Elizabeth Goodwin, Katy Szczepura, Kerry Barrass","doi":"10.1177/27536130261479742","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261479742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental illness is a significant public health issue; with increasing prevalence, alongside associated co-morbidities and social exclusion. Social prescribing schemes, including those using cultural heritage resources, play an increasingly part in addressing this, yet the evidence-base underpinning them is weak with few long-term evaluations of health impact. Furthermore, there are, to our knowledge, no studies which include exploration of health and care resource use as part of evaluations of cultural heritage therapy programmes (CHTPs).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of the Scaling-up Human Henge project was to build and evaluate a viable social prescribing CHTP for people living with a mental illness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The evaluation used a sequential mixed methods design (n=18), a paper-based questionnaire (Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult, EQ-5D-5L, and health and care resource use) administered at four time-points (baseline, halfway through programme, end of programme, and six months after programme) as well as focus groups (end of programme). The significance of changes was assessed through related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank tests and published minimally important differences, using SPSS (V29) and STATA (V18). Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Health-related quality of life, as assessed by EQ-5D-5L values, increased from baseline to mid-programme and again by the end of the programme but these improvements were not statistically significant. Well-being, as assessed by SWEMWBS values statistically significantly increased by the end of the programme and at six-month follow-up. Analysis of the qualitative data identified three themes 1) Living with a mental illness; 2) Connections; and 3) Impact.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings show that CHTPs provide benefits to people living with a mental illness. However, the study identified participants had significantly low levels of mental well-being, raising concerns that social prescribing was being used to mitigate current shortages in clinical mental health provision. This requires further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261479742"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13500949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148815181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Re: The Whole Person Health Index: A Self-Reported Tool to Assess Whole Person Health.","authors":"Angel B Algarin","doi":"10.1177/27536130261481168","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261481168","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261481168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13494300/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148802676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dennis Muñoz-Vergara, Robert B Saper, Sat Bir S Khalsa, Pamela M Rist, Gloria Y Yeh, Michael R Irwin, Karen L Kilgore, Kristin L Schreiber, Peter M Wayne
{"title":"Persistent Relief: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Trial Comparing Yoga to Pain Education for Patients With Persistent Post-Surgical Pain.","authors":"Dennis Muñoz-Vergara, Robert B Saper, Sat Bir S Khalsa, Pamela M Rist, Gloria Y Yeh, Michael R Irwin, Karen L Kilgore, Kristin L Schreiber, Peter M Wayne","doi":"10.1177/27536130261477068","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261477068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Persistent post-surgical pain, a chronic pain syndrome with few effective treatments, has spiked in recent years due to the increase in life expectancy and the number of surgical procedures performed. Studies have shown that non-pharmacological interventions, such as yoga, may help manage chronic pain, reducing pain severity and interference. Despite emerging evidence of the efficacy of yoga in managing chronic pain symptoms, rigorous studies evaluating its use in patients with persistent post-surgical pain have not been conducted. This study describes protocols used in <i>Persistent Relief,</i> an ongoing pilot randomized controlled trial comparing yoga to chronic pain health education. Results from a modified Delphi validation process used to adapt a yoga program for chronic low back pain to the unique needs of this patient population are also included.</p><p><strong>Methods/design: </strong>Fifty patients aged ≥18 with persistent post-surgical pain for at least 3 months and a mean pain severity of 4/10 on the Brief Pain Inventory are randomized to a 12-week yoga program (12, 75-minute sessions) or a chronic pain health education program (12, 15-30-minute sessions), followed by a 12-week follow-up period. Results of an iterative Delphi validation process led by an interdisciplinary expert panel indicated strong endorsement of the Yoga Program (across 7 experts and 9 questions; mean=6.7 [SD=0.64] on a 7-point Likert scale). Primary outcomes include pre-specified feasibility and acceptability metrics. Secondary outcomes include a battery of biopsychosocial measures, with the Brief Pain Inventory as the primary clinical outcome for a future fully powered trial.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Results will provide preliminary data to inform modifications for a future fully powered study evaluating the efficacy of yoga integrated into the management of persistent post-surgical pain. Findings will also inform the design of future studies examining the biological mechanisms underlying the integrative use of yoga to prevent or resolve chronic pain syndromes.</p><p><strong>Clinicaltrialsgov identifier: </strong>NCT06949007.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261477068"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13443253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148686858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna-Carin Robertz, Anne-Katrin Kantzer, Viola Nyman, Carl-Johan Törnhage, Stefan Nilsson
{"title":"Introducing the Concept of Embodied Interconnectedness: Perspectives on Tactile Massage for Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (adhd).","authors":"Anna-Carin Robertz, Anne-Katrin Kantzer, Viola Nyman, Carl-Johan Törnhage, Stefan Nilsson","doi":"10.1177/27536130261475332","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261475332","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) often experience difficulties with attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation, which may limit engagement with traditional therapies. Body-based interventions may offer a complementary approach. Over the past two decades, research on affective touch and C-tactile (CT) fibres has advanced understanding of how gentle, slow stroking contributes to emotional regulation, stress reduction, and social bonding. While these studies demonstrate physiological and psychological effects of CT-targeted touch, translation into everyday clinical practice remains limited. In particular, adolescents' experiences of such interventions are rarely explored, and those with adhd are underrepresented. This study aimed to illuminate experiences, potential benefits, and acceptability of a tactile massage intervention for adolescents with adhd through a process evaluation including adolescent and guardian perspectives.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Fourteen adolescents aged 15-17 years diagnosed with adhd were recruited from a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic in Sweden and participated in ten weekly sessions of tactile massage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents (n = 13) and guardians (n = 12) following the intervention. Qualitative data were analysed using interpretive description, including member checking. Descriptive questionnaire data were collected to contextualise experiences of comfort, relaxation, and feasibility.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Embodied interconnectedness emerged as a central concept describing how tactile massage supported integration of bodily sensations, emotional states, and relational safety. Participants described the intervention as a predictable, respectful, and calming caring encounter. Two experiential patterns were identified: (1) the importance of a structured professional ritual within a safe environment and (2) touch as a pathway to calm and increased bodily awareness. Adolescents reported greater attention to internal bodily signals and increased comfort with physical touch over time.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Tactile massage, delivered as a structured affective touch intervention, may support embodied interconnectedness in adolescents with adhd and inform the integration of touch-based approaches into clinical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261475332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13438357/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148681078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conceptual Hypothesis: An Integrative Map of Mind for Coaches.","authors":"Margaret Moore","doi":"10.1177/27536130261469190","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261469190","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article proposes an integrative map of mind designed to support whole-person, well-being coaching. It extends the author's 2013 hypothesis published in this journal, \"Coaching the Multiplicity of Mind: A Strengths-Based Model,\" by aligning the author's nine science-informed capacities with Hartman's axiology, which describes three dimensions of value (Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Systemic) and their 3×3=9 matrix of pairings. The nine pairings, referred to as nine value positions in this paper, are aligned with Self-Determination Theory, the Enneagram, Jung's cognitive functions, and the Big Five Ten Aspect personality traits. They are further organized into three functional bands (identity, stabilizing, and growth) with Confidence as the center, reflecting integration and wholeness. The nine value positions are recognizable as distinct ways people orient to experience through valuing, motivation, and attention, while remaining fluid, contextual, and interconnected in action. Organized into a map, they help coaches recognize which orientations are active, which are underrepresented, and where tensions between positions may call for self-awareness and integration. The integrative map is offered as a working hypothesis: a shared set of value positions that can align psychological frameworks commonly applied in coaching as a set of dimensions of each of the shared value positions. The map may allow coaches to (1) work from one map rather than holding many constructs and frameworks in parallel, (2) recognize which orientations a client is engaging and which are underrepresented, (3) approach tensions as integration opportunities.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261469190"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13396571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148586260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chanda L Williams, Adrienne Yang, Serena Gilmore, Dalila Stanfield, Paige Steiding, Chloe E Atreya, Sorbarikor Piawah
{"title":"\"Doing My Part in My Healing\": A Qualitative Study Exploring Integrative Oncology Practices Among African Americans with Cancer.","authors":"Chanda L Williams, Adrienne Yang, Serena Gilmore, Dalila Stanfield, Paige Steiding, Chloe E Atreya, Sorbarikor Piawah","doi":"10.1177/27536130261468343","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261468343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>African Americans in the United States continue to experience disproportionate cancer mortality and lower survival across cancer types. Integrative oncology (IO) may help address symptom burden, treatment-related toxicities, and quality of life. However, African Americans remain underrepresented in IO research and may face barriers to access.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore experiences with and attitudes toward IO among African American adults with cancer and to assess interest in participating in IO research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional descriptive study with African American adults receiving cancer care in the San Francisco Bay Area. Data sources included 17 individual semi-structured interviews, one patient focus group (n=5), and one Community Advisory Board focus group (n=3). The patient focus group participants had previously completed interviews. Study participants had a median age of 53 years (range 32-66), 71% were women, and represented a range of cancer diagnoses, treatment experiences, educational backgrounds, and employment statuses. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory-informed thematic approach, with interviews and focus groups coded by source and integrated during thematic development.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes were identified: (1) participants described cancer care within the context of interpersonal and structural racism; (2) participants used a broad range of integrative and complementary approaches; (3) despite high interest in IO, access was limited by lack of awareness, scheduling constraints, and cost; and (4) participants expressed strong interest in IO research, while emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and community benefit.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>African American adults with cancer expressed a strong interest in IO and IO research but described substantial barriers to access and participation. These findings underscore the need for more accessible, trustworthy, and culturally responsive approaches to IO delivery and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261468343"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13392338/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, Isabelle L Miranda, Lorraine C Drapek, Annika Toivonen, Sharon L Bober, Areej R El-Jawahri, Christina Psaros, Maria Lopes, Jenna Flaherty, Maleah Fekete, Elyse R Park
{"title":"Initial Development of a Brief Mind-Body Sexual Well-Being Program for Female Colorectal and Anal Cancer Survivors: A Two-Phase Study of Survivor Needs and Treatment Preferences.","authors":"Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, Isabelle L Miranda, Lorraine C Drapek, Annika Toivonen, Sharon L Bober, Areej R El-Jawahri, Christina Psaros, Maria Lopes, Jenna Flaherty, Maleah Fekete, Elyse R Park","doi":"10.1177/27536130261465421","DOIUrl":"10.1177/27536130261465421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many female colorectal and anal cancer survivors experience distressing changes to sexual well-being (e.g., dyspareunia, low libido) after treatment. Though mind-body programming has previously shown benefit for women's sexual well-being, no existing program is available to address women's sexual well-being specifically following colorectal and anal cancer treatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This two-phase study describes initial development of a group mind-body program for women's sexual well-being in colorectal and anal cancer survivorship.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Phase 1 includes individual interviews with 18 female colorectal and anal cancer survivors and 8 clinicians at an academic comprehensive cancer center, focusing on intervention priorities and session content. In Phase 2, female colorectal and anal cancer survivors from the same cancer center participated in an open pilot trial of the group sexual well-being program (6 weeks; 2 groups with 6 participants in total). Qualitative and quantitative feedback regarding preliminary feasibility and acceptability were interpreted holistically to inform next steps for intervention refinement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In Phase 1, patients identified priorities for intervention, clarified interest in mind-body practices, and highlighted key program modifications (e.g., addressing ostomy use, prioritizing patient privacy in groups). Clinicians expressed positive feedback on the proposed intervention and noted key areas of unmet need for the patients they serve. In Phase 2, preliminary program feasibility (100% of those enrolled attending at least 4 of 6 sessions) and acceptability (83.3% rating their comfort level in groups ≥ 4 on a 5-point scale) were supported. Average group cohesiveness across 6 valid items was high (<i>M</i> = 4.6, range 3.8-5.0).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is clear need for specialized sexual well-being programming for female colorectal and anal cancer survivors. The initial iteration of this mind-body group program was well-received by participants with several key areas for improvement identified that will inform iterative refinement of this novel group intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":73159,"journal":{"name":"Global advances in integrative medicine and health","volume":"15 ","pages":"27536130261465421"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13392339/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}