NCT04458194

Comparing Virtual Yoga to Standard Care on Insomnia Among Cancer Survivors

A Feasibility Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Virtual YOCAS©® Yoga to Standard Care for Treating Insomnia in Cancer Survivors

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Rochester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This feasibility phase II randomized controlled trial examines the preliminary efficacy of our standardized four-week YOCAS©® (Yoga for Cancer Survivors) intervention that is delivered virtually on insomnia and sleep quality in cancer survivors. Insomnia can be described as excessive daytime napping, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or waking up earlier than desired. The vast majority of patients with cancer experience some form of sleep impairment post-treatment. Yoga is safe, feasible, and effective for improving insomnia and sleep quality in cancer survivors. However, most of the yoga intervention was delivered in person. With the challenges and the social distancing regulation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to virtual behavioral intervention is critically important and needed. Whether the yoga intervention delivered virtually to survivors provides a similar benefit of improving insomnia and sleep quality is unknown.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of virtual YOCAS©® intervention to standard care on changes in insomnia measured via the Insomnia Severity Index among cancer survivors SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of virtual YOCAS©® intervention to standard care on changes in sleep quality measured via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among cancer survivors OUTLINE: Cancer survivors are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Standard Care: Cancer survivors receive their standard care ARM II: YOCAS©® intervention: Cancer survivors participate in 8 virtual YOCAS sessions (75 minutes/session, 2 times a week for 4 weeks) delivered via the electronic platform (e.g., Zoom)

Conditions

• Insomnia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Standard Care	Standard Care is used as a control condition. Cancer survivors assigned to this arm continue to receive standard care from their medical providers.
BEHAVIORAL	YOCAS©® yoga	Yoga for Cancer Survivors, YOCAS©®, intervention is a low to moderate intensity mode of exercise that draws from two basic types of yoga; gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga. The program includes specific physical postures and mindfulness exercises focused on breathing and meditation. Cancer survivors will participate in 8 virtual YOCAS sessions (75 minutes/session, 2 times a week for 4 weeks) delivered via an electronic platform (e.g., Zoom)

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-01-12
• Primary completion: 2025-11-30
• Completion: 2026-11-30
• First posted: 2020-07-07
• Last updated: 2026-04-16

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States