The effect of laughter yoga on disease acceptance, treatment adherence and comfort in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled study

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of laughter yoga on hemodialysis patients' disease acceptance, treatment adherence and comfort levels. This randomized controlled study was conducted with 42 patients (experimental group=21, control group=21) who were treated in the hemodialysis unit. Hemodialysis patients in the experimental group received 12 sessions of laughter yoga for four weeks, three days a week. Data were collected using Patient Information Form, Disease Acceptance Scale, End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire, and Hemodialysis Comfort Scale. A significant difference was found between the disease acceptance scale (t(41) = 4.39, p < 0.001, d = 1.364), end-stage renal failure adaptation scale (t(41) = 2.69, p = 0.010, d = 0.830) and hemodialysis comfort scale (t(41) = 5.58, p = 0.010, d = 1.710) of hemodialysis patients who underwent laughter yoga. In addition for the Disease Acceptance Scale, the SD of the pre-test scores was 7.51. Accordingly, the MCID thresholds were calculated as 3.75 (0.5 SD), 3.11 (1 SEM), and 6.09 (1.96 SEM). For the End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire, the SD was 178.79, and the MCID was calculated as 89.40 (0.5 SD), 63.47 (1 SEM), and 124.39 (1.96 SEM). For the Hemodialysis Comfort Scale, the SD was 6.43, resulting in MCID estimates of 3.21 (0.5 SD), 2.01 (1 SEM), and 3.94 (1.96 SEM). Laughter yoga practiced during hemodialysis increased acceptance of the disease, adherence to treatment, and comfort (p < 0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was found in the control group (p > 0.05). Increasing hemodialysis patients' acceptance of the disease, adherence to treatment, and comfort levels ensure the successful continuation of the disease management process. The practice of laughter yoga in clinics during hemodialysis sessions is recommended to increase disease acceptance, adherence to treatment and comfort levels.