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Comparing the Impact of Four Types of Meditation Practices for Relaxation in Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Malignant Solid Neoplasm
Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Interventions
Procedure: Biospecimen Collection
Procedure: Meditation Therapy
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Registration Number
NCT06500377
Lead Sponsor
City of Hope Medical Center
Brief Summary

This clinical trial compares the impact of four types of meditation practices, breathing only, focused attention only, mindfulness only, and breathing, focused attention and mindfulness combined, for relaxation in cancer survivors. Studies show that many patients with cancer experience stress and anxiety. Meditation therapy uses a variety of techniques, such as breathing, sound, or movement, that may help to decrease distress and anxiety and enhance the health and quality of life of patients with cancer. The trial is being done to find out how meditation can help cancer survivors feel relaxed and attain a peaceful state of mind.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Assess the feasibility to attend and complete the meditation program as scheduled (combined arms) within six weeks.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Assess the ability of breathing, mindfulness, focused attention, and a combination of all three meditation techniques to enhance relaxation in cancer survivors.

II. Determine which meditation technique improves the outcome measures the most.

III. Explore which meditation method is preferred by the subjects.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 arms.

ARM I: Patients learn breathing only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

ARM II: Patients learn focused attention only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

ARM III: Patients learn mindfulness only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

ARM IV: Patients learn breathing, focused attention, and mindfulness combined meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
44
Inclusion Criteria
  • Documented written informed consent of the participant

  • Age: ≥ 18 years

  • Ability to understand and fluently speak English or Spanish

  • No previous training in mind-body relaxation techniques including meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong, guided imagery, mindfulness-based stress reduction, hypnosis, or cognitive behavior therapy, that exceeds 3 hours. Additionally, no regular practice of mind-body relaxation techniques, or formal experience with mind-body relaxation techniques within the past 12 months

  • Visual Analog Scale (VAS) anxiety score of > 3 from a range from 0 to 10. A "0" means the lowest anxiety score and a "10" means the highest anxiety score

  • Long-term cancer survivors who received surgery to treat their cancer ( > 6 months since last treatment) with no history of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other systemic therapy (e.g., hormonal therapy) and/or have completely recovered from surgery OR patients identified as having pre-cancerous lesions that have been surgically treated (e.g., colon polyp that has been removed)

  • Willingness to:

    • Provide salivary alpha-amylase sample
    • Complete stress tests and study questionnaires
    • Be monitored with a Bispectral Index (BIS) device
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to complete study required time and procedures as outlined in the study procedures section of the protocol
  • Must not have had previous serious illnesses that affect neurological functioning such as strokes, heart attacks, Parkinson disease, etc
  • Ongoing active psychiatric condition, depressive/bi-polar related disorders, anxiety, psychosis disorders, or substance use that may interfere with the study including panic disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disease
  • Active cancer
  • Cancer survivors who have received chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or any other systemic treatment (e.g., hormonal therapy)
  • Women who are pregnant

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm I (focused attention only meditation)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients learn focused attention only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm III (mindfulness only meditation)Meditation TherapyPatients learn mindfulness only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm IV (combined meditation)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients learn breathing, focused attention, and mindfulness combined meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm I (breathing only meditation)Biospecimen CollectionPatients learn breathing only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm III (mindfulness only meditation)Biospecimen CollectionPatients learn mindfulness only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm IV (combined meditation)Meditation TherapyPatients learn breathing, focused attention, and mindfulness combined meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm I (focused attention only meditation)Biospecimen CollectionPatients learn focused attention only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm I (breathing only meditation)Meditation TherapyPatients learn breathing only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm I (breathing only meditation)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients learn breathing only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm I (focused attention only meditation)Meditation TherapyPatients learn focused attention only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm III (mindfulness only meditation)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients learn mindfulness only meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Arm IV (combined meditation)Biospecimen CollectionPatients learn breathing, focused attention, and mindfulness combined meditation with an instructor over 60 minutes for 3 sessions within 6 weeks. Patients also practice meditation at home and undergo saliva sample collection on study.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Retention rateUp to 6 weeks

Feasibility will be achieved if 70% of all enrolled participants attend at least 5 full visits within 6 weeks. Descriptive statistics will be generated.

Adherence rateUp to 6 weeks

Feasibility will be achieved if 70% of all enrolled participants complete all assessments of the program within 6 weeks. Descriptive statistics will be generated.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

City of Hope Medical Center

🇺🇸

Duarte, California, United States

City of Hope at Irvine Lennar

🇺🇸

Irvine, California, United States

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