The Effect of Yoga on Respiratory Functions, Symptom Control and Life Quality of Asthma Patients: Randomized Controlled Study
Phase: NA
Conditions: Asthma, Yoga
Sponsor: Ataturk University

 
 
 
The effect of yoga on respiratory functions, symptom control and life 
quality of asthma patients: Randomized controlled study 
1.14.2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Abstract 
Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the effect of yoga applied to asthma patients on the 
patients’ respiratory functions, symptom control and quality of life. 
Methods: The study was conducted between December 2017 and October 2018 as a randomized 
experimental study with control group and pre-test post-test practice. The universe of the study 
consisted of 440 asthma patients who had records at the Chest Diseases polyclinic of a university 
hospital and a state hospital. The sample of the study consisted of a total of randomly chosen 112 
asthma patients, 56 in the experimental group and 56 in the control group, who met the research 
criteria and who agreed to participate in the study. Personal Information Form’, ‘Respiratory 
Functions Monitoring Form’,‘Asthma Control Test (ACT)’ and‘Asthma Quality of Life Scale 
(AQLQ)’ were used to collect the data  
Results: In the intragroup comparison of average pre-test and post-test scores of respiratory function 
and ACT and AQLQ total and sub-dimension scores of the patients in the experimental and control 
group, the difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).  In addition, post-test score 
averages were found to increase in the experimental group, while they were found to decrease in the 
control group.  
Conclusion: It was found that yoga influenced respiratory functions, symptom control and quality of 
life positively in asthma patients. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1.Introduction 
Non-pharmacological treatment methods are as important as pharmacological treatment in 
asthma patients in order to take symptoms under control and to prevent the frequency of 
exacerbation 1--7The use of traditional and complementary medicine, which is a non-
pharmacological treatment method, is gradually becoming more important in asthma patients8-
11 There are various studies conducted in the world which show that yoga provides symptom 
control and increases respiratory functions and quality of life in asthma patients5,12-15 
While there are studies conducted with yoga on different patient groups in Turkey, no 
studies have been found on asthma patients specifically.14-16 For this reason, it was thought 
that studies are needed which will prove the effect of yoga practices in preventing and 
controlling symptoms of asthma patients and which will contribute to nursing literature.  
Main purpose: This study was conducted to find out the effects of yoga applied to 
asthma patients on the patients’ respiratory functions, symptom control and quality of life. 
The hypotheses of the study 
H0: Yoga does not improve breathing function, symptom control and quality of life 
H1: Yoga improves the respiratory function of asthma patients. 
H2: Yoga improves symptom control in asthma patients. 
H3: Yoga improves the quality of life of asthma patients 
2.Materials and Methods 
2.1.Design and Setting 
This study is a randomized experimental study with control group and pre-test post-test 
practice. 
2.Sample 
Randomization; A total of 120 patients who met the research criteria were divided into two 
groups by using simple random numbers table, and then the first group which was drawn by 
lot method was named as the experimental group.  

Since 4 people from each group left while the study was being conducted, the study was 
completed with 112 people including two groups of 56 people 
2.3.Data analysis 
 The data obtained from the study were assessed by using SPSS 17 program. 
Arithmetic mean, standard deviation, percentage Chi-square, t test for independent groups, t 
test for dependent groups, Mann-Whitney u test and Wilcoxon test were used in the statistical 
assessment of the data.  
2.4.Ethical Considerations  
Approval was taken from Atatürk University Faculty of Nursing Ethics Board 
(16/11/2017 dated 2017-10/2 numbered) and written permission was taken from the 
institution for the study.  In addition, written and oral consents were taken from the 
individuals who participated in the study after the purpose of the study was explained. . 
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