P02.93
Purpose: Patients receiving chemotherapy experience significant morbidity related to treatment. A randomized study of yoga breathing suggested that it may improve chemotherapy associated symptoms such as sleep disturbance and anxiety. The aims of this qualitative study were to evaluate for emergent effects of yoga breathing, to assess the link between yoga breathing and study outcomes, and to examine mechanisms of the effect of yoga breathing.
Methods: Patients receiving chemotherapy with baseline fatigue were randomized to yoga breathing during 2 successive cycles of chemotherapy or wait-list control. Patients (n=16) attended weekly yoga breathing classes and were instructed to use the breathing practices at home. Patients kept daily journals over the course of the intervention and the yoga instructors recorded their impressions of patients from week to week. Textual data were coded using qualitative thematic analysis by at least two investigators.
Results: We identified five themes: (1) Yoga breathing was easy to incorporate into patients' lives including during daily activities and while receiving chemotherapy. (2) Patients noticed increased energy, stamina, and less need for daytime sleep. (3) Patients noted increased awareness of the mind-body connection; and as a result, felt they were more mindful of the limits of their energy reserves. (4) Patients noted greater peace, calm, and emotional resiliency. (5) Barriers to performing yoga breathing included lack of energy, not knowing proper breathing technique, nasal congestion and severe illness. Some of these barriers were overcome through modifications to the yoga breathing techniques.
Conclusion: Emergent effects detected through qualitative analysis include that yoga breathing may improve emotional resiliency and mind-body awareness. The results support the favorable effects of yoga breathing in improving sleep disturbance and anxiety among chemotherapy patients. The role of mindfulness in mediating the effects of yoga breathing suggested by these findings will be explored in future study.
Contact: Irene Kang, kirene@gmail.com
