Yogic meditation improves objective and subjective sleep quality of healthcare professionals

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of yogic meditation in sleep quality of healthy pediatric healthcare professionals.

Method: Subjects were randomized into a meditation group (MG, n = 32), who attended a yogic meditation class held for eight weeks, or a control group (CG, n = 32). Polysomnography (PSG) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were determined at baseline and after eight weeks.

Results: The PSQI overall score was lower (p = 0.024) in the MG. Reported sleep latency (p = 0.046) and MG sleep latency (p = 0.028) were lower in the MG at eight weeks. PSG showed a time effect (p = 0.020) on decreasing minutes of wake after sleep onset in the MG. There were strong and significant correlations between PSG and PSQI variables. There was a significant time effect on heart rate (p = 0.001) in the MG.

Conclusion: Yogic meditation may be used as an integrative health tool to foster improvements in the health-related aspects of healthcare professionals' lives.

Trial registration: CinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02947074; trial registry name: Meditation Practice in Pediatric Healthcare Professionals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Keywords: Health professionals; Meditation; Polysomnography; Sleep; Yoga; Yogic meditation.