Effectiveness of a Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification Program for Asthma Patients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of conducting a complementary 8-week comprehensive lifestyle modification program (CLMP) compared to standard care in patients with bronchial asthma over a 6-month period. Methods. This was a randomized controlled pilot trial with two groups: intervention (N = 15) group and attention-placebo control (N = 14) group. The intervention group received an 8-week CLMP in addition to standard care. Quality of life, asthma control, lung function, reduction of rescue medication, perceived stress, and psychosocial and spiritual status were measured at the end of the intervention and at the 4-month follow-up. Results. In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant difference in the improvements of quality of life, asthma control, lung function, and the reduction of rescue medication intake at both the end of the intervention and at the 4-month follow-up, with no change being observed in the control group. Significant stress reduction and greater psychosocial and spiritual well-being were observed during the 8-week CLMP in the intervention group. At the end of the intervention, the measures of stress and psychological and spiritual well-being reached statistical significance. Conclusions. Preliminary findings suggest that adding a CLMP to standard care in patients with bronchial asthma offers greater clinical benefit than standard care alone and also suggest that conducting a large randomized clinical trial is feasible.

• chronic disease self-management program
• complementary and integrative medicine
• ethicotherapy
• psychotherapy
• spirituality
• yoga

Acknowledgments

We thank allergologists Klugova A, M.D.; Pokorna B, M.D.; Vogeltanz V, M.D.; Pokladnikova V, Jr.; and local community pharmacies, especially the Green Pharmacy (Pokladnikova V, Pharm.Dr.), for their support.

Declaration of Interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest. There was no financial conflict of interest at any stage of the research work, design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the article.

The study received funding from Sasakawa Asthma Fund in collaboration with the Olga Havlova Foundation in Prague and Josef Pliva Foundation, as well as Svitavy community pharmacies.