Latin dancing to improve sleep for Hispanic cancer survivors
Moviendo Las Caderas: Effects of Latin Dancing on Sleep Quality in Hispanic Cancer Survivors
We'll try a culturally tailored Latin dance program to see if it helps Hispanic cancer survivors sleep better than usual care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (New Brunswick, New Jersey) |
| Trial ID | NCT06844981 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled feasibility trial will develop and test a culturally appropriate Latin dance program for Hispanic cancer survivors using iterative community feedback to shape the sessions. Eligible participants who are Hispanic adults at least three months post-primary cancer treatment with self-reported sleep disturbance will be randomized to the dance program or usual care. The study will measure feasibility and acceptability and collect both subjective (questionnaires) and objective (e.g., actigraphy) sleep outcomes, along with secondary outcomes such as quality of life, distress, insomnia, and fatigue. The trial aims to provide preliminary evidence on whether a culturally tailored physical-activity approach can improve sleep and related symptoms in this population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Hispanic or Latino adults who completed primary cancer treatment at least three months earlier, report sleep disturbance, and are physically inactive.
Not a fit: Patients who already practice Latin dancing regularly, who cannot read English or Spanish, or who are unable to engage in moderate physical activity are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve sleep quality and related symptoms like fatigue and distress, offering a culturally engaging nonpharmacologic option for Hispanic cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous exercise and dance-based programs have shown sleep and quality-of-life benefits for cancer survivors, but culturally tailored Latin dance interventions for Hispanic survivors are relatively novel and understudied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Be 18 years of age or older * Self-identify as Hispanic and/or Latino(a) * Have a confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy * Must have completed primary cancer treatment 3+ months prior to enrollment (e.g., chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy but may be on hormonal therapy and/or immunotherapy or other long-term therapies) * Have sleep disturbance (indicated by a response of 3 or more on the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory sleep question by using an 11-point scale anchored by 0 \[no sleep disturbance\] and 10 \[worst possible sleep disturbance\] * Be able to read and understand English and/or Spanish * Physically Inactive (\<150 minutes of vigorous exercise/week within the past 3 months) Exclusion Criteria: * Current regular Latin dancing practice within the past year (2-3 times a week over a period of two months that is not interrupted). * Inability to speak and read English or Spanish proficiently * Inability to understand informed consent * Medical conditions that can cause sleep impairment: sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, shift work * Regular use of a walker or wheelchair * Healing or unhealed fractures * Heart failure * Life expectancy \<12 months * Unwilling to be randomized to study arms and/or commit to 8 weeks of classes and a follow-up assessment
Where this trial is running
New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Rutgers Cancer Institute — New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Evelyn Arana, DrPH — Rutgers Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Evelyn Arana, DrPH
- Email: earana@CINJ.Rutgers.edu
- Phone: 908-642-0861
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.