Comparing four types of meditation for relaxation in cancer survivors
A Pilot Study Exploring Four Types of Meditation Practices for Relaxation Among Cancer Survivors
This study tests which of four types of meditation helps cancer survivors relax the most.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 44 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | City of Hope Medical Center Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 2 sites (Duarte, California and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06500377 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of four different meditation practices—breathing only, focused attention only, mindfulness only, and a combination of all three—on relaxation in cancer survivors. Participants will be randomized into one of the four arms and will attend three 60-minute sessions over six weeks, practicing meditation techniques at home and providing saliva samples for analysis. The study aims to assess feasibility, relaxation enhancement, and participant preferences regarding the meditation methods.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are long-term cancer survivors who have not engaged in mind-body relaxation techniques for over a year and have moderate anxiety levels.
Not a fit: Patients who have undergone recent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other systemic therapies may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could help cancer survivors reduce stress and anxiety, improving their overall quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown positive outcomes with meditation practices in reducing anxiety and improving quality of life for cancer patients, suggesting this approach is promising.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where this trial is running
Duarte, California and 1 other locations
- City of Hope Medical Center — Duarte, California, United States (Recruiting)
- City of Hope at Irvine Lennar — Irvine, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Richard T Lee — City of Hope Medical Center
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.