This randomized pilot clinical trial studies Yoga Skills Training or attention control in reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms during chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer. Yoga Skills Training consists of meditation, movement and breathing practices that aim to promote mindfulness and relaxation. Attention control consists of conversations with a caring professional with a recommendation to complete daily home diaries. It is not yet known whether Yoga Skills Training is better than attention control at reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms in patients undergoing chemotherapy.The purpose of this initial feasibility study is to refine study procedures.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To obtain preliminary data on the efficacy of the Yoga Skills Training (YST) for improving the targeted outcomes (primary: fatigue; secondary: depressive symptoms) as compared to the attention control (AC). II. To explore potential mediators (psychological stress, circadian disruption, inflammation) and moderators (gender, dose of the YST, outcome expectancies) of the effects of the YST on targeted outcomes. III. To qualitatively assess perceived efficacy of the interventions and acceptance of daily measurement through semi-structured interviews in a subset of participants. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I (YST intervention): Patients undergo YST intervention comprising four individualized, 30 minute in-person sessions that instructs skills to enhance mindfulness and promote relaxation during outpatient chemotherapy sessions in weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. Patients practice awareness - noticing the current state and establishing relaxed breathing for 5 minutes; movement - 7 minutes of gentle movements coordinated with the breath (such as raising and lowering the arms); breathing practice - 3 minutes of inhaling cool air as if through a straw; and meditation - 5 minutes of focus on letting go of physical and mental tension. Patients are given a handout describing the YST and audio recording with devices to play the recording to encourage patients to practice daily. Strategies to increase adherence to home practice will be implemented and patients will be asked to keep home practice logs. ARM II (attention control): Patients attend four 30-minute in-person sessions with an interventionist in weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. During these sessions, patients are encouraged to discuss their experiences while receiving chemotherapy and do not receive instruction of movement, meditation or breathing practices. Patients will also be asked to write brief diary entries daily at home. After completion of study, patients are followed up for 4 weeks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
3
Undergo YST
Ancillary studies
Ancillary studies
Ancillary studies
Correlative studies
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Changes in fatigue (recalled)
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Graphical and descriptive summaries of the patterns over time of these summary statistics for each of these groups will comprise a key initial phase of the analyses. Bootstrapping methods will be used to generate 95% confidence intervals for all sample descriptive statistics and effect estimates. Key statistical tests will involve between group differences in mean values and group differences in the patterns (i.e., slopes) of individual changes from respective baseline values. Evaluated using mixed-effects (or multilevel) generalized linear modeling procedures with robust variance estimation.
Time frame: at 10 weeks
Changes in depressive symptoms (recalled and daily)
Graphical and descriptive summaries of the patterns over time of these summary statistics for each of these groups will comprise a key initial phase of the analyses. Bootstrapping methods will be used to generate 95% confidence intervals for all sample descriptive statistics and effect estimates. Key statistical tests will involve between group differences in mean values and group differences in the patterns (i.e., slopes) of individual changes from respective baseline values. Evaluated using mixed-effects (or multilevel) generalized linear modeling procedures with robust variance estimation.
Time frame: Baseline up to 14 weeks
Changes in daily fatigue
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Graphical and descriptive summaries of the patterns over time of these summary statistics for each of these groups will comprise a key initial phase of the analyses. Bootstrapping methods will be used to generate 95% confidence intervals for all sample descriptive statistics and effect estimates. Key statistical tests will involve between group differences in mean values and group differences in the patterns (i.e., slopes) of individual changes from respective baseline values. Evaluated using mixed-effects (or multilevel) generalized linear modeling procedures with robust variance estimation.
Time frame: Baseline up to 14 weeks
Changes in psychological stress (daily and recalled) as assessed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Graphical and descriptive summaries of the patterns over time of these summary statistics for each of these groups will comprise a key initial phase of the analyses. Bootstrapping methods will be used to generate 95% confidence intervals for all sample descriptive statistics and effect estimates. Key statistical tests will involve between group differences in mean values and group differences in the patterns (i.e., slopes) of individual changes from respective baseline values. Evaluated using mixed-effects (or multilevel) generalized linear modeling procedures with robust variance estimation.
Time frame: Baseline up to 14 weeks
Regulation of psychological stress (daily and recalled) as assessed by Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form and Cancer Behavior Inventory
Graphical and descriptive summaries of the patterns over time of these summary statistics for each of these groups will comprise a key initial phase of the analyses. Bootstrapping methods will be used to generate 95% confidence intervals for all sample descriptive statistics and effect estimates. Key statistical tests will involve between group differences in mean values and group differences in the patterns (i.e., slopes) of individual changes from respective baseline values. Evaluated using mixed-effects (or multilevel) generalized linear modeling procedures with robust variance estimation.
Time frame: Up to 14 weeks
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