Testing the efficacy of yoga as a complementary therapy for smoking cessation: design and methods of the BreathEasy trial

Affiliations

¹ Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Bbock@Lifespan.org.
² Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Rrosen@lifespan.org.
³ Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: jfava@lifespan.org.
⁴ University of Massachusetts Medical School, School of Public Health, Brown University, 55 Lake Avenue N., Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Electronic address: Ronnesia_gaskins@brown.edu.
⁵ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Ejennings1@lifespan.org.
⁶ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Hthind@Lifespan.org.
⁷ University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55N. Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Electronic address: James.carmody@umassmed.edu.
⁸ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: sdunsiger@lifespan.org.
⁹ The Motion Center, 111 Chestnut Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: naama@motioncenter.com.
¹⁰ Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Bbecker@Lifespan.org.
¹¹ Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: Bmarcus@ucsd.edu.

PMID: 24937018
PMCID: PMC4127445
DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.06.003

Randomized Controlled Trial

Testing the efficacy of yoga as a complementary therapy for smoking cessation: design and methods of the BreathEasy trial

Beth C Bock et al. Contemp Clin Trials. 2014 Jul.

. 2014 Jul;38(2):321-32.

doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jun 14.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Bbock@Lifespan.org.
² Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Rrosen@lifespan.org.
³ Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: jfava@lifespan.org.
⁴ University of Massachusetts Medical School, School of Public Health, Brown University, 55 Lake Avenue N., Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Electronic address: Ronnesia_gaskins@brown.edu.
⁵ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Ejennings1@lifespan.org.
⁶ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Hthind@Lifespan.org.
⁷ University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55N. Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Electronic address: James.carmody@umassmed.edu.
⁸ Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: sdunsiger@lifespan.org.
⁹ The Motion Center, 111 Chestnut Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: naama@motioncenter.com.
¹⁰ Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Bbecker@Lifespan.org.
¹¹ Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: Bmarcus@ucsd.edu.

PMID: 24937018
PMCID: PMC4127445
DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.06.003

Abstract

Introduction: Smokers trying to quit encounter many challenges including nicotine withdrawal symptoms, cigarette craving, increased stress and negative mood and concern regarding weight gain. These phenomena make it difficult to successfully quit smoking. Studies in non-smoking populations show that yoga reduces stress and negative mood and improves weight control. By increasing mindfulness we anticipate that yoga may also improve smokers' ability to cope with the negative symptoms associated with quitting. Yoga may also improve cognitive deliberation which is needed to make effective choices and avoid smoking in tempting situations.

Methods/design: The BreathEasy study is a rigorous, randomized controlled clinical trial examining the efficacy of Iyengar yoga as a complementary therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy for smoking cessation. All participants are given an 8-week program of smoking cessation classes, and are randomized to either twice weekly yoga (Yoga) or twice-weekly health and wellness classes which serve as a control for contact and participant burden (CTL). Assessments are conducted at baseline, 8 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. The primary outcome is prolonged abstinence using an intention-to-treat approach. Multiple internal and external audits using blind data collection are employed to ensure treatment fidelity and reliability of study results. To understand why yoga may be more effective than CTL, we will examine the mechanisms of action (i.e., mediators) underlying intervention efficacy. We will examine the maintenance of yoga practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Focus groups and interviews will be used to enrich our understanding of the relationship of yoga practice and smoking abstinence.

Conclusions: This study will provide a stringent test of the relative efficacy of yoga compared to a condition that controls for contact time and attention. The use of mixed methodology also provides the opportunity to validate existing knowledge about yoga and helps to explore new themes for future mindfulness and yoga research.

Keywords: Smoking cessation; Wellness; Yoga.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

1. Al’absi M, Hatsukami D, Davis GL, Wittmers LE. Prospective examination of effects of smoking abstinence on cortisol and withdrawal symptoms as predictors of early smoking relapse. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2004;73(3):267–278. - PubMed
1. Hughes JR, Keely JP, Niaura RS, Ossip-Klein DJ, Richmond RL, Swan GE. Measures of abstinence in clinical trials: issues and recommendations. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2003;5(1):13–25. - PubMed
1. Kassel JD, Stroud LR, Paronis CA. Smoking, stress, and negative affect: correlation, causation, and context across stages of smoking. Psychological Bulletin. 2003;129(2):270–304. - PubMed
1. Gard T, Brach N, Hölzel BK, Noggle JJ, Conboy LA, Lazar SW. Effects of a yoga-based intervention for young adults on quality of life and perceived stress: the potential mediating roles of mindfulness and self-compassion. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2012;7(3):165–175.
1. CDC. Smoking-attributable mortality, years of potential life lost, and productivity losses United States, 2000-2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2009;57(45):1226–1228. - PubMed

Publication types

Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Grants and funding

R01 AT006948/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
- scite Smart Citations
Medical
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- MedlinePlus Health Information

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Testing the efficacy of yoga as a complementary therapy for smoking cessation: design and methods of the BreathEasy trial

Affiliations

Testing the efficacy of yoga as a complementary therapy for smoking cessation: design and methods of the BreathEasy trial

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Medical