Meditative Slow Breathing or Isha Kriya Meditation in Improving Cancer-Related Symptoms in Hospitalized Participants With Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Test the feasibility of the meditation practice.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Explore the acceptability of meditation in cancer patients through modified Global Symptom Evaluation (GSE) and on day 7 +/- 1 day and day 28 +/- 3 days.

II. Explore the effect of meditative practices in cancer patients through Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) on the day of enrolment and a weekly basis until the end of study at four weeks.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 3 groups.

GROUP I (MSB): Participants are instructed on the meditative slow breathing (MSB) technique and then perform MSB over 15 minutes twice daily (BID) for 28 days.

GROUP II (IK MEDITATION): Participants are instructed on the 3 steps of Isha Kriya (IK) meditation and then perform IK meditation over 15 minutes BID for 28 days.

GROUP III (WAITLIST): Participants are placed on a waitlist and receive standard supportive care for 28 days. After 28 days, participants may crossover to Group II.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of malignancy
• Admitted to the hospital
• Able to follow instructions
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Practice (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG]) score of 3 or below
• Fluency in English

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with life expectancy less than 2 months per attending physician or advance practice provider's note or assessment of prognosis
• Patients with cognitive dysfunction
• Patients who are admitted for observation for < 48 hours will be excluded from the study, as one day would be difficult to provide the necessary information
• Patients who are delirious
• Patients who are unable to follow instructions due to their medical condition
• Patients admitted to the intensive care unit
• Patients with ESAS > 4/10 on dyspnea
• Patients requiring oxygen more than 2 liters
• Patients who are current meditation practitioners