Efficacy Of An Inpatient Yoga Therapy Program For Cancer Patients

Efficacy Of An Inpatient Yoga Therapy Program For Cancer Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to learn whether a yoga therapy program can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms in people undergoing stem cell transplantation compared with an enhanced standard care physical activity program.

Primary Objective:

• Examine the efficacy of YT relative to SC on HSCT-specific QOL. Outcomes will be collected at baseline pre-transplant (pre-YT) and then day 0, 14, 30, 60, and 100 as well as 1-year post-transplant.

Secondary Objectives and Endpoints:

• Examine group differences in other patient-reported outcomes including general QOL and fatigue.
• Explore group differences in psychosocial and functional outcomes and as possible mediators including stress, mental health (depression and anxiety), sleep disturbances, growth, self-efficacy, mindfulness, and objective functional measures as well as moderators of YT including demographic factors (sex, age, etc.), baseline psychosocial factors, and medical variables (e.g., autologous versus allogeneic transplant).
• Explore YT's implementation through qualitative interviews.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female cancer patients
2. Age 18 or older
3. Understand and read English
4. Scheduled to undergo their first autologous or allogeneic HSCT (even number of each) at MDA with a minimum of 2-week inpatient hospital stay
5. Be willing to follow protocol requirements
6. Sign a written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have extreme mobility issues that preclude participating in the Yoga program
2. Have major thought disorders such as schizophrenia or uncontrolled bipolar disorder
3. Have hematopoietic cell transplantation HCT comorbidity score of 3 or higher (excluding cancer)