Couples-Based Yoga Program in Improving Quality of Life in Patients with High-Grade Glioma Undergoing Radiation Therapy and Their Partners

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Examine the feasibility of a couple-based and a caregiver yoga program in glioma patients

undergoing radiotherapy (RT) and their partners.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Establish the initial efficacy of the yoga program in patients and their partners regarding quality of life (QOL) outcomes (i.e., fatigue, sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, and overall QOL and health care utilization).

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Explore potential moderation (e.g., baseline psychological distress, patients’ tumor grade, performance status and class attendance) of the intervention effects.

OUTLINE: The first ten couples are assigned to arm I. All subsequent couples are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients and their partners attend up to 15, 45-60 minute sessions of Hatha yoga over the course of radiation therapy 5 times a week for 5-6 weeks. The program comprises four main components: joint loosening with breath synchronization; postures with deep relaxation techniques; breath energization with sound resonance; and meditation. At the fifth session, patients and their partners receive a digital video disc (DVD) and are encouraged to practice on their own (individually and/or together) on the days when they do not meet with the instructor.

ARM II: Patients receive standard of care provided by the health care team and complete questionnaires before and after radiation therapy.