Yoga for Adolescent and Young Adult Non-Curative Cancer Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Adolescents and young adults who are living with cancer are not benefiting from the same age-appropriate physical and psychosocial care, as are children and older adults. As a result, their unique needs often go unmet or unaddressed. Studies have demonstrated that a lack of age-appropriate care may be responsible for a deceased quality of life. Studies have also shown that physical activity is able to reduce many of the negative side-effects linked to cancer and its treatment (e.g., nausea, vomiting, fatigue). A light form of physical activity that is both safe and manageable for cancer patients is yoga. The purpose of this study is to examine the achievability and safety of a light 7-week home/hospice-based Hatha yoga program (available on DVD) in the adolescent and young adult non-curative cancer population. This study will also examine the ability of yoga to reduce cancer related side effects.

Official Title
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Impact of Yoga on Quality of Life for Adolescent and Young Adult Non-Curative Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

Conditions
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Advanced Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Hatha Yoga


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with a non-curative cancer and assigned to non-curative or palliative care Between 15-39 years of age Have primary physician/oncologist consent to participate Exclusion Criteria: Experience any medical conditions that contraindicate yoga (e.g., bone metastases) Exhibit cognitive limitations (e.g., psychiatric disorders) Score below 30% on Palliative Performance Status Scale

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years
Maximum Age: 39 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Hatha Yoga Program<br>Single-arm pilot study of a 7-week home/hospice-based Hatha yoga program for adolescent and young adults with non-curative cancer. | Behavioral: Hatha Yoga<br>* This is a 7-week home/hospice-based instructive Hatha yoga program (available on DVD) for adolescent and young adults diagnosed with a non-curative cancer. Participants will be asked to complete a minimum of one, 75-minute yoga session per week. The DVD package includes four discs that increase in difficulty over the course of the 7-week program. The DVD focuses on postures and breathing exercises. Participants will be asked to keep track of the number and duration of yoga sessions completed over the 7-week period.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility: Recruitment | Recruitment will be calculated by the number of patients who consent to participate, divided by the number of eligible participants recommended by the primary oncologist/physician. | Final: end of week 7 | 
| Feasibility: Retention | Retention: Will be determined by reporting the number of participants who complete the baseline and post-program questionnaire and follow-up testing. | Final: end of week 7 | 
| Feasibility: Adherence | Adherence: Participants will be asked to record the number of yoga sessions performed each week. Overall adherence will be calculated by summing the actual number of sessions the participant engaged in, divided by the recommended number of sessions. | Final: end of week 7 | 
| Safety | Safety: Any adverse events reported by the participant will be recorded. | Final: end of week 7 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Quality of Life | Participants will be asked to complete the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care subscale (FACIT-Pal) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-Being subscale (FACIT-Sp) at baseline and post-intervention. | Baseline: week 1; Final: week 7 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cancer, Adolescent and Young Adult, Exercise, Physical Activity, Quality of Life, End-of-Life, Palliative, Terminal, Yoga, Alternative Therapies, Fitness, Fatigue