The Effects of Laughter Yoga and Mindfulness on Nurses' Fatigue, Work Performance and Attention Levels: A Randomized Controlled Study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of laughter yoga and mindfulness on nurses' fatigue, attention levels, and work performance. METHODS: This was a 3-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled study. Data were collected using the Information Form containing questions about nurses' demographic and professional characteristics, the Chalder Fatigue Scale, the Computerized Sustained Attention Test, and the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire. Nurses completed the tools preintervention, midtest, and postintervention. RESULTS: The study included 101 nurses. At the end of the eight-week interventions, fatigue levels among nurses in the laughter yoga and mindfulness groups were lower compared with the control group (F = 8.805, P < .001). In terms of attention levels, there was no overall difference between the groups; however, in the fourth week only, the hard-level attention scores of the laughter yoga group were higher than those of the control group (F = 5.431, P < .05). Additionally, job performance scores were higher in both intervention groups compared with the control group (F = 9.879, P < .01). Moreover, laughter yoga was more effective than the mindfulness practice in reducing nurses' fatigue and improving their attention levels (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Laughter yoga and mindfulness were effective in reducing nurses' fatigue and improving their attention levels and work performance.