Feasibility and Acceptability of an Internet-Based, African Dance-Modified Yoga Program for African-American Women with or at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

Reducing CVD health disparities in Black women through addressing social determinants of health (SDOH): a scoping review

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities among Black American women can be linked directly to social determinants of health (SDOH). This scoping review examines the breadth and depth of existing literature on CVD risk reduction interventions in young-to-middle-aged women that address SDOH. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar for relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English. We included studies if they reported on the feasibility, acceptability, or findings of a CVD risk reduction intervention, addressed at least one SDOH domain, and included Black women 18-45 years of age. Of the 2,533 studies screened, 5 studies were eligible for inclusion. Specific SDOH domains addressed included: social and community context and health-care access and quality. All but one study reported culturally tailored intervention components. Feasibility and acceptability of culturally tailored interventions was high among included studies examining this outcome. Recommendations for future research focused on the need for additional interventions that were culturally tailored to young- and middle-aged Black women. Future research should work to address existing evidence gaps via development and implementation of culturally tailored, CVD risk reduction and disease prevention interventions for young-to-middle-aged Black women that focus addressing SDOH, as these types of interventions demonstrate promise for reducing CVD health disparities among Black women.

Remote Delivery of Yoga Interventions Through Technology: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The popularity of yoga and the understanding of its potential health benefits have recently increased. Unfortunately, not everyone can easily engage in in-person yoga classes. Over the past decade, the use of remotely delivered yoga has increased in real-world applications. However, the state of the related scientific literature is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aimed to identify gaps in the literature related to the remote delivery of yoga interventions, including gaps related to the populations studied, the yoga intervention characteristics (delivery methods and intervention components implemented), the safety and feasibility of the interventions, and the preliminary efficacy of the interventions.

METHODS

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Scientific databases were searched throughout April 2021 for experimental studies involving yoga delivered through technology. Eligibility was assessed through abstract and title screening and a subsequent full-article review. The included articles were appraised for quality, and data were extracted from each article.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies of weak to moderate quality were included. Populations varied in physical and mental health status. Of the 12 studies, 10 (83%) implemented asynchronous delivery methods (via prerecorded material), 1 (8%) implemented synchronous delivery methods (through videoconferencing), and 1 (8%) did not clearly describe the delivery method. Yoga interventions were heterogeneous in style and prescribed dose but primarily included yoga intervention components of postures, breathing, and relaxation and meditation. Owing to the heterogeneous nature of the included studies, conclusive findings regarding the preliminary efficacy of the interventions could not be ascertained.

CONCLUSIONS

Several gaps in the literature were identified. Overall, this review showed that more attention needs to be paid to yoga intervention delivery methods while designing studies and developing interventions. Decisions regarding delivery methods should be justified and not made arbitrarily. Studies of high methodological rigor and robust reporting are needed.

Mind-Body Approaches to Prevention and Intervention for Alcohol and Other Drug Use/Abuse in Young Adults

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) misuse is highly prevalent among young adults and creates myriad long-term problematic social, economic, and health consequences. Current treatments aimed at preventing or alleviating AOD misuse have demonstrated fairly inconsistent and weak effectiveness and, thus, are far from a complete solution. In this review, we describe the current state of AOD interventions for young adults and present an alternative emotion regulation framework for understanding AOD use/misuse. We then describe implications of this framework for interventions to promote healthier emotion regulation to successfully reduce AOD use/misuse. In particular, we assert that mind⁻body approaches, such as meditation, distress tolerance, and yoga, may promote emotion regulation skills that allow young adults to manage their stressful experiences and distressing emotions without AOD use. We review the available literature on mind⁻body interventions targeting AOD use/misuse in young adults and offer suggestions for future intervention development and research.

Yoga as an Alternative and Complimentary Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Yoga, a mind-body exercise, utilizes breathing techniques with low-impact physical activity that may be an alternative treatment for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine yoga interventions for patients at-risk for and/or suffering from cardiovascular disease. The inclusion criteria for interventions were ( a) published in the English language between 2005 and 2015; ( b) indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, or Alt HealthWatch; ( c) employed a quantitative design; and ( d) applied a yoga intervention. Twelve interventions met the inclusion criteria, of which, all documented significant improvements in one or more factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Limitations to the studies in this review included a lack of studies adhering to the inclusion criteria, small sample sizes, and high attrition rates. Despite the limitations, this review demonstrates the clear potential yoga has as an alternative and complementary means to improve cardiovascular disease risk.

Behavior-Specific Influences for Physical Activity Among African American Women

The purpose of this study was to describe physical activity (PA) behaviors and physical functioning of prehypertensive and Stage I hypertensive African American Women (AAW) and to examine the relationships between PA behavior, physical functioning, personal factors, and behavior-specific influences. Pender's Health Promotion Model was the conceptual framework for the study. A cross-sectional design and convenience sample were used. The PA domain where the greatest amount of time was spent was in work-related activity, followed by household, leisure time, and transportation activity. Personal factors most strongly correlated to lower PA were greater body mass index and waist circumference. AAW perceived moderate barriers to PA and minimal family and friend social support for PA. Future interventions need to focus on removing barriers to and improving social support for PA among AAW.