Yoga to Improve Disparities in Cancer Survivorship

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Survivorship; Cancer

Treatments: Other: Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07165600

NCI-2025-05225 (Registry Identifier)

25802

Details and patient eligibility

About

This clinical trial tests the impact of a racially concordant trainer led yoga program on quality of life and symptom burden in Black and/or African American cancer survivors. Black individuals in the United States are more affected by cancer, despite modern advances. Cancer treatments can impact physical and mental health and overall quality of life and Black individuals report worse physical function and quality of life and less access to culturally appropriate support services. Yoga has been shown to have a positive impact on cancer and cancer treatment related symptoms and quality of life, however, a one size fits all approach has not been shown to be effective in diverse populations. A trainer that shares the same racial or ethnic background as the participant (racially concordant) may have a positive impact on communication, trust, and may improve accessibility and participation. Participating in a yoga program led by a racially concordant trainer may improve quality of life and symptom burden in Black and/or African American cancer survivors.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine the feasibility and acceptability of a yoga intervention among Black individuals with cancer.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate the effect of the intervention on health-related quality of life.

II. To estimate the effect of the intervention on symptom burden. III. To determine the safety of the intervention.

OUTLINE:

Participants engage in racially concordant trainer led yoga sessions over 60 minutes once weekly (QW) on weeks 1-4 then participate in self-practice video led yoga sessions over 10-15 minutes on weeks 5-8.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at 3 months.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age >=18 years.
2. Able to understand study procedures and to comply with them for the entire length of the study.
3. Ability of individual or legal guardian/representative to understand a written informed consent document, and the willingness to sign it.
4. Diagnosed with any malignancy and/or received any cancer directed therapy within 5 years of enrollment.
5. Be able to speak, read and write in English.
6. Self-identify as Black or African American race.
7. Reside in California.

Exclusion criteria

1. Contraindication to any study-related procedure or assessment.

   a. Participants complete the PAR-Q at screening to ensure that they are physically well enough to enroll in the study. If they report any conditions that may be contraindications to physical activity, physician clearance will be required prior to enrollment.

2. Planned major surgery during the study period.

3. Any major injuries that limit physical activity.

4. Plans to receive any form of further cancer therapy during the study period (exception: individuals with breast or prostate cancer are allowed to be on hormone therapy on the study).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 1 patient group

Yoga Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive a 4-week yoga intervention consisting of weekly 60-minute yoga sessions led by a trained facilitator. Participants may also participate remotely. At the end of the program, participants will also receive access to online yoga training videos (created by the study team) to continue self-practice.

Treatment:

Other: Yoga