DOI: 10.4103/jncd.jncd_93_26 ISSN: 2468-8827

Effectiveness of the common yoga protocol on sleep quality among nursing students: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial

Anju Antony, Sukhpal Kaur, Akshay Anand, Neena Vir Singh
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ABSTRACT

Background:

Sleep disturbances are common among nursing students and may adversely affect academic performance, mental well-being, and clinical functioning. Yoga has been proposed as a nonpharmacological approach to improve sleep quality; however, evidence among nursing students remains limited.

Objective:

The study evaluated the effect of the common yoga protocol (CYP) on sleep quality among nursing students.

Design:

This study was a parallel-group randomized controlled trial.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 102 nursing students were randomly assigned to either a yoga group ( n  = 51) or a control group ( n  = 51). The intervention group participated in an 8-week CYP program. Sleep quality was assessed at baseline and postintervention using the Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (B-PSQI). Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, between-group differences using the Mann–Whitney U test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to compare postintervention outcomes after adjusting for baseline sleep quality.

Results:

Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in overall sleep quality over time ( P < 0.001). The yoga group showed significant improvements in sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and total B-PSQI scores. Although unadjusted analysis demonstrated a small between-group difference in postintervention total B-PSQI scores ( P = 0.04), ANCOVA revealed no statistically significant group effect after adjustment for baseline sleep quality [ F (1,99) = 0.074, P = 0.786, partial η 2  = 0.001]. Baseline sleep quality was a significant predictor of postintervention outcomes ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Both groups experienced improvements in sleep quality during the study period. After adjustment for baseline sleep quality, no statistically significant independent effect of the CYP was observed. The findings suggest that factors other than the intervention alone may have contributed to the observed improvements. Furthermore, trials with improved adherence, objective sleep measures, and longer follow-up are warranted.

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