Mindfulness Online for Symptom Alleviation and Improvement in Cancer of the Prostate

Participants will be recruited from multiple locations, including NorthShore University
Health System's Kellogg Cancer Center (KCC) and local community organizations (e.g., UsToo
meetings, Cancer Wellness Center). Participating physician researchers will identify their
eligible patients from the electronic medical record and will mail them a letter of
invitation to learn more about the study and consider enrolling. Each participant will be
e-mailed a link to the baseline questionnaire. After baseline completion, participants will
be randomized, using an online random number generator, to the online course or face-to-face
course. Course orientation for both groups will be held on the same night, but at different
times. The separate orientations will be scheduled with a thirty minute break in between, in
order to prevent intermixing of the groups and potential dissatisfaction among participants
about their assigned group. In the orientation for the online class, participants will become
familiar with the online video conferencing program Zoom, be introduced to other group
participants, and receive a clear overview of what to expect for the 4-week mindfulness
course. In the orientation for the face-to-face class, participants will be introduced to
other group participants and receive a clear overview of what to expect for the 4-week
mindfulness course. Participants will meet for approximately 2.5 hours each week for 4 weeks
online or face-to-face. In addition, a face to face half day retreat will occur after the
third class, in which participants from both face to face and online courses may attend. In
the event that a participant unexpectedly misses a class, the instructor will follow-up with
them and review the material covered in class. The class instructor may contact participants
up to 3 times to review class expectations and teachings prior to or during the 4-week
program. Participants will once again be asked to complete the online assessment.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of clinically advanced prostate cancer (e.g., castrate-sensitive, metastatic
[clinical metastasis], castrate-resistant, non-metastatic [rising PSA on LHRH],
castrate-resistant, metastatic)

- Receiving some form of cancer treatment (e.g., androgen deprivation therapy,
chemotherapy

- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0-217

- At least 18 years of age

- Able to speak, read and understand English

- Able to perform basic activities of daily living (as determined by referring
physician)

- Cognitively intact and free of serious psychiatric illness (as determined by referring
physician)

- Access to internet connection within a room where patient will not be interrupted.
This room needs to have an open space of about 6ft by 5 ft to allow for gentle
movement and stretching.

- Access to a laptop or desktop computer with a camera. In the event that a patient does
not have access to a computer, but is committed to the course, a laptop will be lent
to him from the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University.

- Willing to commit to the online MBSR course

- Willing to complete pre- and post-test assessments

- Physically able to participate in gentle Hatha yoga postures that are geared towards
cancer patient populations, as determined by referring physician or medical team
member

Exclusion Criteria:

- Regular user of MBSR or a similar mind-body therapy, which is defined as ≥ 4 times a
week for the past 2 weeks

- Men with a short life expectancy as determined by the referring oncologist