Virtual Yoga for Insomnia in Cancer Survivors

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Brittany LaVaute, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Rochester

Disqualifiers: Sleep apnea, Restless leg syndrome, Metastases, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 4 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if virtual yoga can help cancer survivors improve sleep. It targets those who struggle with falling or staying asleep after cancer treatment. Participants will either continue their usual care or try a four-week virtual yoga program, specifically YOCAS©® yoga, to assess its impact. Suitable candidates are cancer survivors who completed treatment within the last 2 months to 10 years and experience sleep difficulties. They must also have internet access and be able to join online yoga sessions. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for participants to explore innovative ways to enhance their well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it does mention that participants should not be receiving any form of cancer treatment except for hormonal or biologic therapy.

What prior data suggests that this virtual yoga intervention is safe for cancer survivors?

Research shows that YOCAS©® yoga is safe for cancer survivors. Studies have found that it improves sleep quality and reduces the need for sleep medication. Most participants in past studies reported better sleep and would recommend yoga to others. This trial will test whether online sessions are as effective and safe as in-person ones. Based on previous research, YOCAS yoga appears to be a safe way to help cancer survivors sleep better. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for insomnia in cancer survivors, which often involve medication or cognitive behavioral therapy, YOCAS yoga is unique because it provides a natural, non-pharmaceutical approach to improving sleep. This virtual yoga program offers eight 75-minute sessions over four weeks, delivered via platforms like Zoom, making it highly accessible and convenient. Researchers are excited about this treatment due to its potential to improve sleep quality through relaxation and stress reduction, without the side effects associated with medications.

What evidence suggests that virtual yoga is effective for improving insomnia in cancer survivors?

Research has shown that YOCAS yoga, which participants in this trial may receive, can help cancer survivors sleep better and reduce insomnia. In one study, over 90% of participants reported improved sleep after practicing yoga. Another study found that yoga alleviated insomnia more effectively than other treatments. Many cancer survivors also reported feeling less tired and experiencing better overall well-being after YOCAS yoga sessions. This trial will compare the effects of virtual YOCAS yoga sessions with standard care to determine if online sessions can provide the same benefits as in-person classes. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Karen Mustian, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Rochester

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer survivors who've finished their surgery, chemo, or radiation between 2 months and 10 years ago. They must have trouble sleeping, be over 18, speak English, and can use the internet with a device. They shouldn't have sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, be doing yoga already or plan to start it outside of the study.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for my cancer.

I often have trouble sleeping.

I finished my cancer treatment between 2 months and 10 years ago.

Exclusion Criteria

I am a cancer survivor without sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.

My cancer has not spread to distant parts of my body.

If you have had cancer and want to participate in the study, you should not have done yoga in the past three months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 8 virtual YOCAS sessions (75 minutes/session, 2 times a week for 4 weeks) delivered via an electronic platform

4 weeks

8 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in insomnia and sleep quality after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• YOCAS©® yoga

Trial Overview The study tests if virtual YOCAS©® yoga helps improve sleep in cancer survivors compared to standard care. Participants are randomly placed into two groups: one does four weeks of online yoga sessions; the other continues regular care without yoga.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: YOCAS Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Cancer survivors receive 8 virtual yoga sessions (75 minutes/session, 2 times a week for 4 weeks) delivered via an electronic platform (e.g., Zoom)

Group II: Standard Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Cancer survivors receive their standard care

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Rochester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

883

Recruited

555,000+

Bassett Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

40+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A nationwide phase III randomized controlled trial involving 410 cancer survivors found that a 4-week yoga therapy program (YOCAS) significantly improved cancer-related fatigue (CRF) compared to standard survivorship care.

Improvements in sleep quality and reductions in daytime dysfunction were found to mediate 22% to 37% of the positive effects of yoga on CRF, suggesting that enhancing sleep may be a key mechanism through which yoga therapy benefits cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue and on Mediational Relationships Between Changes in Sleep and Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Nationwide, Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga in Cancer Survivors. Lin, PJ., Kleckner, IR., Loh, KP., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04458194

Comparing Virtual Yoga to Standard Care on Insomnia ... Yoga is safe, feasible, and effective for improving insomnia and sleep quality in cancer survivors. However, most of the yoga intervention was delivered in ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11571999/

Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS): A Systematic Review ... The YOCAS program effectively reduced cancer-related fatigue, improved sleep quality, and addressed the cognitive and musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879406824001826

The effect of YOCAS©® yoga on cancer-related fatigue ... Most younger and older participants reported that yoga helped improve their sleep quality (92.8 % vs 88.5 %) and they would recommend it to other survivors ( ...

4. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.12005

Effects of YOCAS yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, and ... Yoga participants demonstrated greater improvements in insomnia from pre- to post-intervention (CS = -3.61, SE = 0.30) compared to SHE ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3757292/

Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga for Sleep ... Ninety percent of cancer survivors found yoga useful for improving their sleep quality, and 100% would recommend yoga to other cancer survivors experiencing ...

6. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.9531

Effect of YOCAS yoga on insomnia and sleep medication ... Conclusions: YOCAS yoga is a safe intervention that significantly improves INS while concurrently reducing Rx sleep medication usage among ...

7. cureus.com cureus.com/articles/308896-yoga-for-cancer-survivors-yocas-a-systematic-review-of-the-yocas-programs-impact-on-physical-and-psychological-well-being

Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS): A Systematic Review ... ​​​​​​​The YOCAS program effectively reduced cancer-related fatigue, improved sleep quality, and addressed the cognitive and musculoskeletal ...