Implementing a restorative yoga therapy to reduce anxiety and improve quality of life among patients with breast cancer

Abstract

<p>Maintaining psychological health is an important component of a patient&rsquo;s well-being throughout breast cancer treatment. Anxiety and quality of life are two common indicators of psychological health. Restorative yoga therapy enhances psychological health by reducing anxiety and improving quality of life among patients with breast cancer. Restorative yoga is a gentle subtype of yoga that incorporates stretching, breathing, and meditation exercises aimed to calm the body. The purpose of this project is to determine if participation in restorative yoga therapy decreases anxiety and increases quality of life among patients with breast cancer undergoing therapy or who have previously completed therapy. Han Selye&rsquo;s General Adaptation Syndrome and Margaret Newman&rsquo;s &ldquo;Health as Expanding Consciousness&rdquo; theory provided the theoretical foundation, and the Iowa Model was used to guide the implementation process. Restorative yoga therapy was provided in-person and web-based at the Victory Center, a supportive cancer resource facility located in the greater Toledo region. Participants completed a 60-minute weekly restorative yoga therapy for a 4-week period. Anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory) and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast) questionnaires were administered prior to the initiation of restorative yoga therapy and post restorative yoga therapy. Outcomes of anxiety and quality of life were evaluated by a paired samples t-test. The STAI state significantly improved (p = 0.002) after participants completed the 4-week intervention of restorative yoga therapy. The FACT-B also significantly improved (p =0.002) following the 4-week intervention. The findings of this evidence-based practice project indicate that restorative yoga therapy is and effective complementary therapy to improve anxiety and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Restorative yoga therapy is a viable option for enhancing psychological health in patients with breast cancer undergoing therapy or who have previously completed therapy.</p>