Predictors of Attendance and Attrition in an 8-week Yoga for Arthritis Program

Exercise is recommended for arthritis, but adherence averages 50-60%. Yoga is safe and enjoyable, though long-term adherence is unknown.

In this RCT, 75 persons ages 18-65 were recruited through clinics and rheumatologists. Participants were 96% female, 55% Caucasian, aged 52.3 ±11.9 years and randomized to immediate yoga (IY) or waitlist control (WC) then yoga. 8 weeks of classes and home practice included poses, breathing, chanting, relaxation and meditation, accommodating limitations. Adherence was classified as attending ≥13/16 classes. Baseline predictors included sociodemographic/disease characteristics, psychosocial factors and physical fitness, entered into regression model based on bivariate significance.

40 patients were assigned to IY and 35 to WC. No differences existed between groups except age was higher in WC (55.9±1.5 vs. 49.2±2.1, p=.01).

23 participants withdrew prior to classes. There was a trend for those assigned to WC to drop out (83% vs. 63% for IY and WC respectively p=.059), even controlling for age. Of the 52 who began, 38 (73%) were adherent, which did not differ by group (77.4% IY vs. 66.3% WC, p=.39). A logistic model with age, race, group, wait time, self-efficacy for arthritis management and flexibility explained 51.4% of variance. Reasons for attrition were change in eligibility, life events and class logistics.

Arthritis patients who begin yoga are likely to persist. Those in WC were more likely to drop out before classes. Attrition may be impacted by demographic, physical, psychosocial and logistical factors. Yoga may be an option for adults with arthritis, especially when exercise adherence has been suboptimal.