Breathing Techniques and Meditation for Health Care Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

This phase I trial investigates breathing techniques and meditation for health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic. Breathing techniques and medication may help manage stress and improve lung health. The goal of this trial is to learn if breathing techniques and meditation may help to reduce stress and improve lung health in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To demonstrate the feasibility of a short pranayama or breathing techniques and meditation during Covid-19 pandemic. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the adherence to the practice assessed as at least 50% of participants implement the intervention for 3 or more times in a week by the end of week 1/day 7 (+ 3 days). II. To determine the change in resilience, perceived stress and psychological impact from day 0 today 28 as measured by the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4), and COVID-19 Stress among health care workers questionnaire. III. To determine the changes in breath holding time measured weekly for 4 weeks. IV. To determine the differences in breath holding time between those who are adherent and those who are not adherent to the practice. OUTLINE: Patients view an instructional video on breathing techniques and meditation. Patients then perform breathing techniques over 3 minutes and meditation over 2 minutes twice daily (BID) for 28 days.

Patients view an instructional video on breathing techniques and meditation. Patients then perform breathing techniques over 3 minutes and meditation over 2 minutes BID for 28 days.

To demonstrate the feasibility of a short pranayama or breathing techniques and meditation during Covid-19 pandemic. Feasibility will be defined as recruitment of 50 participants to the study within 2 months.

Defined as more than 50% of participants perceive the intervention as useful. Meditation perception questions were asked such as usefulness, feeling at peace, hopeful, or relaxed, and responses were recorded as strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree at weeks 1 and 4.

Will determine the differences in breath holding time between those who are adherent and those who are not adherent to the practice.

Will determine the adherence to the practice assessed as at least 50% of participants implement the intervention for 3 or more times in a week by the end of week 1/day 7 (+ 3 days).

Inclusion Criteria: Participants must be able to read and understand English Must be employed at MD Anderson Cancer Center Exclusion Criteria: Epilepsy Brain tumor Brain aneurysm Pregnant or trying to get pregnant Brain bleeding in the past 1 year Recent abdominal surgery and not cleared to exercise

Narayanan S, Tennison J, Cohen L, Urso C, Subramaniam B, Bruera E. Yoga-Based Breathing Techniques for Health Care Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic: Interests, Feasibility, and Acceptance. J Altern Complement Med. 2021 Aug;27(8):706-709. doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0536. Epub 2021 Apr 9.