Feasibility of implementing a community-based randomized trial of yoga for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer

Background Treatment-related symptoms and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) frequently occur during chemotherapy for breast cancer. Although research fndings suggest that yoga can reduce symptoms and improve HRQoL after treatment, potential benefts of yoga during chemotherapy have received minimal attention. Objective To estimate accrual, adherence, study retention, and preliminary effcacy of a yoga intervention compared with an active control group for breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. Methods Women with stage I-III breast cancer were recruited from 3 community cancer clinics and randomized to 10 weeks of gentle yoga or wellness education. Depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep, and HRQoL were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (Week 5), and after intervention (Week 10). Results 40 women aged 29-83 years (median, 48 years; 88% white) were randomized to yoga (n = 22) or wellness education (n = 18). The groups did not differ signifcantly on baseline characteristics, adherence, or study retention. Participant feedback was positive and comparable between groups. Meaningful within-group differences were identifed for sleep adequacy and quantity in yoga participants and for somnolence in wellness-education participants. Limitations Small sample size and lack of a usual-care control group. Conclusions This study established feasibility of a community-based randomized trial of yoga and an active comparison group for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Preliminary effcacy estimates suggest that yoga improves sleep adequacy. Symptom severity and interference remained stable during chemotherapy for the yoga group and showed a trend toward increasing in the control group. The study highlighted obstacles to multisite yoga research during cancer treatment.