COVID-19 InfectionNCT04482647
Breathing Techniques and Meditation for Health Care Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic
A study testing Media Intervention, Meditation Therapy and Quality-of-Life Assessment in people with COVID-19 Infection, run by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- COVID-19 Infection
- What is being tested?
- Media Intervention, Meditation Therapy and Quality-of-Life Assessment
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 17 Jun 2020to 30 Apr 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 70 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must be able to read and understand English
- Must be employed at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Breathing Techniques and Meditation for Health Care Workers During COVID-19
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.
Read the detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of a short pranayama or breathing techniques and meditation during Covid-19 pandemic.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
- 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.
- Conditions
- COVID-19 Infection
- Being tested
- Media Intervention, Meditation Therapy, Quality-of-Life Assessment, Questionnaire Administration, Yoga
- Medical subject headings
- COVID-19
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Media InterventionOther
View instructional video
Meditation TherapyProcedure or surgery
Also called Meditation
Perform meditation
Quality-of-Life AssessmentOther
Also called Quality of Life Assessment
Ancillary studies
Questionnaire AdministrationOther
Ancillary studies
YogaProcedure or surgery
Also called Yoga Therapy
Perform breathing techniques
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) | Experimental | 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. Receives: Other: Media Intervention; Procedure: Meditation Therapy; Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Procedure: Yoga |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants Recruited to the Study (Feasibility)
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.
Measured: Within 2 months
Number of Participants Who Perceived the Intervention as Useful
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.
Measured: Week 1 and Week 4
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in Resilience
Measured by the Brief Resilient Coping Scale among health care workers questionnaire.
Measured: 4 weeks
Perceive Stress and Psychological Impact
Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale and COVID-19 Stress among health care workers questionnaire.
Measured: 4 weeks
Breath Holding Time
Will determine the differences in breath holding time between those who are adherent and those who are not adherent to the practice.
Measured: 4 weeks
Adherence 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).
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jul 2020
- Study start17 Jun 2020
- Primary completion5 Nov 2020
- Study completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for COVID-19 InfectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Santhosshi Narayanan, Principal investigator, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04482647
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-0483
- Other IDs
- NCI-2020-04931, 2020-0483
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Jul 2020
- Last updated
- 30 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Wagner RW, Mallaiah S, Anderson CR, Engle R, Vasu V, Bruera E, Subramaniam B, Cohen L, Narayanan S. Effects of the Brief Simha Kriya Breathing Practice for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Oct;30(10):970-977. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0692. Epub 2024 Mar 28.
PubMed 38546421Narayanan 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.
PubMed 33835830
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Breathing Techniques and Meditation for Health Care Workers During COVID-19
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04482647
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-0483
- Conditions
- COVID-19 Infection
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study start
- 17 Jun 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Jul 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 16 Feb 2022
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of a short pranayama or breathing techniques and meditation during Covid-19 pandemic.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
- 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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) | Experimental | Other: Media Intervention, Procedure: Meditation Therapy, Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment, Other: Questionnaire Administration, Procedure: YogaPatients 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participants must be able to read and understand English
- Must be employed at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Epilepsy
- Brain tumor
- Brain aneurysm
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Brain bleeding in the past 1 year
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Media InterventionView instructional video | Other | Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) |
| Meditation TherapyAlso: MeditationPerform meditation | Procedure or surgery | Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) |
| Quality-of-Life AssessmentAlso: Quality of Life AssessmentAncillary studies | Other | Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) |
| Questionnaire AdministrationAncillary studies | Other | Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) |
| YogaAlso: Yoga TherapyPerform breathing techniques | Procedure or surgery | Supportive Care (video, breathing techniques, meditation) |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants Recruited to the Study (Feasibility)
Time frame: Within 2 months
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.
Number of Participants Who Perceived the Intervention as Useful
Time frame: Week 1 and Week 4
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.
4 secondary outcomes
Change in Resilience
Time frame: 4 weeks
Perceive Stress and Psychological Impact
Time frame: 4 weeks
Breath Holding Time
Time frame: 4 weeks
Adherence to the Practice
Time frame: 4 weeks
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Jun 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38546421Wagner RW, Mallaiah S, Anderson CR, Engle R, Vasu V, Bruera E, Subramaniam B, Cohen L, Narayanan S. Effects of the Brief Simha Kriya Breathing Practice for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Oct;30(10):970-977. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0692. Epub 2024 Mar 28.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33835830Narayanan 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.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Santhosshi Narayanan principal investigator
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Media Intervention, Meditation Therapy and Quality-of-Life Assessment in people with COVID-19 Infection, run by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 16 Feb 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants Recruited to the Study (Feasibility) (time frame: Within 2 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04482647, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jun 2026.