None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Shortness of breath, known as dyspnoea, is a common and distressing symptom experienced by lung cancer patients that can severely impact physical functioning and quality of life. Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that may provide relief from dyspnoea in this cohort, however few quality studies have been conducted to test effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to determine if an 8 week yoga therapy is a feasibly treatment in lung cancer patients. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are an adult who has been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and are experiencing shortness of breath. Study details Participants in this study will receive one of the two below treatments: Group 1: Participants in this group will receive an information booklet focussed on optimal care and receive video recordings of all yoga sessions 9 weeks after enrolment. Group 2: Participants in this group will take part in an 8-week yoga exercise intervention, requiring participants to attend one face-to-face session per week and up to two online sessions per week. The group that participants take part in will be determined randomly (by chance). Throughout the study, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and complete physical exercise testing. It is hoped that this study will help determine whether an 8-week yoga intervention is a feasible treatment to address shortness of breath in lung cancer patients and provide information that will help inform a larger trial.
Interventions
This study is a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial examining the effects of yoga on individuals with lung cancer who experience dyspnoea. Participants will be invited to join an 8-week yoga program. Participants are required to attend two yoga sessions each week. One in-person session lasting 60 minutes at the NICM Health Research Institute in Westmead, and two live online sessions, also lasting approximately 60 minutes, conducted via ZOOM will be provided. Participants can choose
This study is a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial examining the effects of yoga on individuals with lung cancer who experience dyspnoea. Participants will be invited to join an 8-week yoga program. Participants are required to attend two yoga sessions each week. One in-person session lasting 60 minutes at the NICM Health Research Institute in Westmead, and two live online sessions, also lasting approximately 60 minutes, conducted via ZOOM will be provided. Participants can choose either one in-person session and one online session, or two online sessions. Attendance at a third session is voluntary. Before starting the group classes, all participants will receive an online one-on-one introductory session. This session will help them become familiar with using ZOOM and ensure that they can see and be seen clearly by the yoga teacher during online sessions. The yoga intervention is based on a Delphi study conducted with expert yoga therapists experienced in working with respiratory diseases, including lung cancer. The sequence of yoga postures and techniques used in the group sessions will be standardized across participants to ensure consistency. However, participants will also be encouraged to engage in brief, home-based yoga practices, consisting of a short, simple 10-minute routine that focuses on breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. These home practices are designed to be easy to follow and non-strenuous, promoting regular engagement and symptom management. All yoga classes will be led by a qualified yoga therapist, with the support of two substitute teachers as needed. For both face-to-face and online sessions, the maximum group size is 5 participants and a qualified yoga therapist leading the session. The weekly sessions (both in-person and online) will include a range of low-intensity techniques, such as: - Physical postures and movements (e.g., seated spinal twist, supported bridge pose, gentle chest openers) - Breathing exercises (e.g., diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing) - Relaxation and mindfulness techniques - Meditation practices (Om meditation). The overall intensity of the sessions will be low to moderate and will be assessed using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Participants will be advised to avoid any movements that cause discomfort or shortness of breath, and sessions will be adapted accordingly. Participants will receive written and video instructions for the home practices and will be asked to document their engagement in a weekly yoga diary. Adherence to the intervention will be monitored through: - Attendance checklists for each group session (including the optional third session) - Weekly yoga diaries to record home-based practice (duration and frequency) and any adverse events - Regular phone check-ins (after the first session, then weekly) to assess health status, motivation, and barriers to practice - Email or text reminders to encourage continued participation All group sessions (both face-to-face and online) will be video recorded. Baseline measures will be taken in week 0, and final assessments will be conducted in week 9, after the last scheduled yoga session.
Sponsors
Turkish Republic Ministry of National Education
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1) 18 years of age or older; 2) diagnosed with any stages of non-small cell lung cancer; 3) currently experiencing dyspnoea (NRS equal to 3 or greater); 4) sufficient English to understand research procedures and provide written informed consent; 5) able to engage in yoga therapy independently (ECOG equals 0,1 or 2); 6) willing and available to complete all research procedures, including two yoga sessions per week. (NRS: The 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale for dyspnoea is a subjective measurement tool used to assess the severity of a patient's dyspnoea. It asks the patient to rate their dyspnoea on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no dyspnoea, and 10 indicates the most severe dyspnoea imaginable (Wysham et al., 2015); ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) Performance Status is a scale used to assess a patient's overall functional status and ability to carry out daily activities, particularly in cancer care. It ranges from 0 to 5, with 0 indicating that the patient is fully active and can carry out all normal activities without restriction and five indicating that the patient is deceased (Popovic et al., 2018)).
Exclusion criteria
1) presence of any disease (comorbidities) that interferes with physical activity (eg. Severe COPD, symptomatic heart failure); 2) mental illnesses, serious cognitive disorders, speech disorders; 3) have been undertaking yoga classes or a personal yoga practice, an average of more than once a week, over the past three months. 4) Life expectancy < 3 months
Outcome results
None listed