Yoga therapy to reduce fatigue in cancer: effects of reminder e-mails and long-term efficacy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether reminder e-mails could enhance yoga therapy adherence and improve fatigue, depression, and quality of life in cancer patients, while also examining long-term effects of yoga.
Results Summary
Reminder e-mails significantly improved yoga practice frequency and reduced general and emotional fatigue, with practice frequency partially mediating emotional fatigue reduction. Long-term yoga therapy benefits were observed for fatigue, depression, and quality of life, though physical and cognitive fatigue improvements were not linked to practice frequency.
Population
Cancer patients who completed an 8-week yoga therapy program.
Effective Dosage
Weekly reminder e-mails for 24 weeks post-therapy.
Duration
8-week yoga therapy followed by 24-week reminder phase.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
weekly reminder e-mails after yoga therapy | decrease | general fatigue | cancer patients | p=0.038, d=0.42 | significantly stronger reduction | #1 |
weekly reminder e-mails after yoga therapy | decrease | emotional fatigue | cancer patients | p=0.004, d=0.59 | significantly stronger reduction | #2 |
weekly reminder e-mails after yoga therapy | increase | practice frequency | cancer patients | p=0.015, d=0.52 | higher increase | #3 |
practice frequency | decrease | emotional fatigue | cancer patients | indirect effect B=-0.10 | partially explained the changes | #4 |
yoga therapy | decrease | fatigue | cancer patients | F>7.46, p<0.001, d>0.54 | long-term effects | #5 |
yoga therapy | decrease | depression | cancer patients | F>7.46, p<0.001, d>0.54 | long-term effects | #6 |
yoga therapy | increase | quality of life | cancer patients | F>7.46, p<0.001, d>0.54 | long-term effects | #7 |
higher practice frequency | no change | physical fatigue | cancer patients | - | did not lead to higher improvement | #8 |
higher practice frequency | no change | cognitive fatigue | cancer patients | - | did not lead to higher improvement | #9 |
OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of reminder e-mails to continue yoga therapy on practice frequency and fatigue in cancer patients and long-term effects of yoga on fatigue, depression, and quality of life. METHODOLOGY: One hundred two cancer patients who completed an 8-week yoga therapy were randomly allocated to two groups: reminder (N = 51) vs. no-reminder group (N = 51). After completing yoga therapy, the reminder group received weekly e-mails for 24 weeks, which reminded them of practicing yoga, whereas the no-reminder group did not. Primary outcomes were fatigue and practice frequency, and long-term outcomes were fatigue, depression, and quality of life. Data were assessed using questionnaires after yoga therapy (T1) and 6 months after completing yoga therapy (T2). RESULT: A significantly stronger reduction of general (p = 0.038, d = 0.42) and emotional fatigue (p = 0.004, d = 0.59) and a higher increase of practice frequency (p = 0.015, d = 0.52) between T1 and T2 were found for the reminder group compared to the no-reminder group. In the mediation model, practice frequency as a mediator partially explained the changes in emotional fatigue (indirect effect B = - 0.10). Long-term effects of yoga therapy regarding fatigue, depression, and quality of life were found (F > 7.46, p < 0.001, d > 0.54). CONCLUSION: Weekly reminder e-mails after yoga therapy can positively affect general and emotional fatigue and help cancer patients with fatigue establish a regular yoga practice at home. However, higher practice frequency did not lead to higher physical or cognitive fatigue improvement, suggesting other factors that mediate efficacy on physical or cognitive fatigue, such as mindfulness or side effects of therapy.