In a recent clinical trial aimed at understanding adherence patterns to mind-body interventions among seniors, researchers delved into the factors influencing participation rates in such programs. Led by K.E. Flegal and colleagues(2007), the study involved 135 generally healthy seniors aged 65-85 years, randomly assigned to a 6-month intervention comprising either Iyengar yoga classes with home practice, exercise classes with home practice, or a wait-list control group.

The study, which also evaluated cognitive function, mood, fatigue, anxiety, health-related quality of life, and physical measures as outcome variables, employed class attendance and biweekly home practice logs to assess adherence to the interventions.

Findings from the study revealed a dropout rate of 13%. Among those who completed the active interventions, attendance rates were promising, with an average of 77% for yoga classes and 69% for exercise classes. Home practice was also moderately maintained, occurring 64% and 54% of all days for yoga and exercise, respectively.

Interestingly, adherence levels did not significantly impact the observed outcomes, such as quality of life and physical measures. However, correlations were found between class attendance and baseline measures of depression, fatigue, and physical components of health-related quality of life. Additionally, disparities in baseline measures were noted between study completers and dropouts in the active interventions.

The study also identified that factors such as age, gender, and education level did not significantly influence adherence rates among participants.

In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance of understanding and maximizing adherence in clinical trials involving physically active interventions, particularly among seniors. The study suggests that strategies to enhance adherence, especially among individuals at higher risk for low adherence, are crucial for future trials, particularly those involving complementary treatments that demand greater effort from participants than conventional interventions. By addressing adherence challenges, researchers can better ensure the efficacy of interventions in clinical settings.

Reference: Flegal, K. E., Kishiyama, S., Zajdel, D., Haas, M., & Oken, B. S. (2007). Adherence to yoga and exercise interventions in a 6-month clinical trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 7, 1-7.