Yoga and meditation for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study exploring participants' experiences.
Support Care Cancer
; 32(7): 413, 2024 Jun 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38842686
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Breast cancer survivors commonly experience menopausal symptoms, specifically when undergoing antihormonal therapy. Unfortunately, they often have a restricted range of treatment options available to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore breast cancer survivors' experiences and effects of a yoga and meditation intervention supplementing previously reported RCT outcomes.METHODS:
The qualitative data included in this study were part of a larger randomized controlled trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 12-week yoga and meditation intervention on menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. All participants who underwent the yoga intervention (n = 19) were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews after all quantitative data collection had been completed. Interviews (n = 9) were recorded, transcribed, and then coded into superordinate themes using thematic analysis.RESULTS:
Nine female participants were interviewed, and the following themes emerged (1) representations and expectations from the yoga intervention; (2) course structure and implementation; (3) perceptions and effects of the intervention (at emotional, physical, behavioral, and spiritual level); (4) differences between the study yoga intervention and other physical activities.CONCLUSIONS:
In accordance with the accounts of participants, yoga might offer a promising intervention for breast cancer survivors. All those interviewed either currently attended a yoga class or expressed a desire to continue practicing yoga. Additionally, our findings inform future studies regarding aspects such as the importance of extending outcome measures beyond specific cancer-related complains, the advantages of addressing homogenous groups (i.e., breast cancer specific), or considering that different intervention components might need different assistance to encourage long-term use.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Yoga
/
Breast Neoplasms
/
Menopause
/
Meditation
/
Qualitative Research
/
Cancer Survivors
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Support Care Cancer
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Alemania