The effects of yoga on urban underserved breast cancer patients.

e17557 Background: The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine within the NCI posits that complementary/alternative medicine offers promise for QoL and treatment-related adverse effects. Given that ethnic minorities and underserved breast cancer survivors may be at greater risk for QoL impairment than white cancer survivors, we have designed a yoga study to address the needs of this target audience. Methods: This study used a randomized waitlist control design with QoL examined at two assessment points: T1 (baseline) and T2 (12 weeks). Patients were asked to complete the FACT-B and FACIT-Sp questionnaires. Patients were then randomized to the treatment group (one hour yoga classes) or control group. Both groups completed the questionnaires at the completion of the study. Results: 14 women were recruited to the control group and 24 women to the study group. The average age of the control group was 45, and 55 for the study group. The average FACIT-Sp score for the control group pre-treatment was 88.75; post-treatment, 90 . For the study group, the mean scores were 93.6 and 123.4. There was a significant increase in scores in the study group (p=0.004) while the increase in the control group was not significant. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the FACIT-Sp scores between the study and control groups at the termination of the study (p=0.001) whereas there was no difference in FACIT-Sp scores pre-treatment (NS). The mean FACT-B score for the control group pre-treatment was 70.5 and post-treatment 73.5. For the study group, the mean scores were 73.9 and 97.0. There was a significant increase in FACT-B scores in the study group (p=0.0009) while the increase in scores in the control group was not significant. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the scores between the study and control groups at the termination of the study (p=0.002) whereas there was no difference in the scores pre-treatment (NS). Conclusions: Hatha yoga can be a viable method of addressing QoL outcomes in an urban underserved population. Participation in yoga resulted in improved spiritual, emotional and physical well being compared to the control group.