Facility-Based Yoga for Adult Cancer Patients and Survivors at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center: A Retrospective Study of Program Utilization and Barriers to Care
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Yoga is associated with improvements in quality of life and symptom burden in patients with cancer, yet barriers to participation persist. This study retrospectively evaluated real-world utilization, factors associated with attendance, symptom trajectories, and satisfaction with a yoga program at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Methods: Adults with a primary cancer diagnosis enrolled in the Integrative Oncology and Survivorship Program (January 2024–February 2026) who attended ≥1 yoga session were included. Patients attended weekly 60 min instructor-led classes. Attendance trends, baseline predictors of attendance, pre/post PROMIS-29 changes after four visits, and satisfaction ratings were analyzed using chi-square, rank-sum, and multivariable negative binomial regression. Results: Among 148 patients, 80 (54.1%) attended ≥4 visits. Median age was 60 years; 44.6% identified as Black/African American. Attendance increased over time (70.1% in 2024 to 75.0% in early 2026). Patients aged ≥60 demonstrated 1.74-fold (IRR 1.74, 95%CI 1.05–2.90, p = 0.033)-higher attendance, while mild sleep disturbance was associated with lower attendance (IRR 0.26, 95%CI 0.09–0.74, p = 0.012). No significant PROMIS-29 domain changes were observed after four visits, though descriptive improvements were noted. Satisfaction was uniformly high; 93.8% rated likelihood of recommending the service as “Very Good”. Conclusions: In this retrospective real-world study, facility-based yoga was well accepted and demonstrated improving utilization across a racially diverse oncology cohort. Older age was associated with greater engagement, while sleep disturbances may represent a barrier to sustained participation. and demonstrated improving utilization across a racially diverse oncology cohort. Older age was associated with greater engagement, while sleep disturbances may represent a barrier to sustained participation.
Source: Healthcare
Institutions: Emory University, Winship Cancer Institute
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7225646318