Evaluating Yoga Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

dc.contributor.advisorRaman, Maitreyi
dc.contributor.advisorMarshall, Deborah
dc.contributor.authorD'Silva, Adrijana
dc.contributor.committeememberNasser, Yasmin
dc.contributor.committeememberVallance, Jeff
dc.date2022-11
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-09T13:49:00Z
dc.date.available2022-08-09T13:49:00Z
dc.date.issued2022-06-21
dc.description.abstractBackground: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease of the brain-gut axis. Mind-body therapies such as yoga target the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, immune and endocrine systems involved in the brain-gut axis to improve IBS symptoms and other patient outcomes such as mental health and quality of life. Virtually delivered yoga programming has not been tested nor have the experiences of participants in these programs been explored. Further, we are unaware of the beliefs and attitudes of IBS patients and gastroenterologists towards yoga. Objectives: This thesis had four objectives and they were to: 1) identify patients’ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control for yoga, and underlying beliefs and intentions to practice yoga; 2) identify gastroenterologists’ attitudes, perceived supports, barriers and facilitators and intention to recommend a yoga program as part of routine medical care for patients with IBS; 3) explore the feasibility and efficacy of an eight-week virtual yoga program on IBS symptom severity and other patient-reported outcomes compared to an advice-only control group; and 4) explore and describe participants’ experiences in a virtual yoga program, and its impact. Methods: Using mixed-methods, cross-sectional surveys were used to answer aims 1 and 2. A randomized clinical trial answered objective 3 and semi-structured interviews answered objective 4. Results: Patients (N=109) reported controllability, self-efficacy, and affective attitude predicted their intention to practice yoga. Gastroenterologists (N=79) reported they were ten times more likely to recommend yoga if they agreed yoga improves IBS symptoms, however, most were not recommending yoga due to lack of confidence and scientific evidence. The randomized controlled trial (N=79) found virtually delivered yoga was safe, feasible, and efficacious in improving IBS symptoms, quality of life, stress, and fatigue. The interviews revealed the participants had overwhelmingly positive experiences in the program. Conclusions: Virtually delivered yoga programming is acceptable, safe, feasible, and efficacious in the treatment of IBS. Future research is needed to explore how virtually delivered yoga may be positioned as a therapy in the management of IBS.en_US
dc.identifier.citationD’Silva, A. (2022). Evaluating Yoga Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/114922
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39968
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyCumming School of Medicineen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectIrritable bowel syndromeen_US
dc.subjectYogaen_US
dc.subjectMeditationen_US
dc.subjectTelehealthen_US
dc.subjectVirtual healthcareen_US
dc.subjectGastroenterologisten_US
dc.subject.classificationHealth Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationPublic Healthen_US
dc.titleEvaluating Yoga Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndromeen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMedicine – Community Health Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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