Designing, Validation, and Feasibility Analysis of Integrated Approach of Heartfulness Meditation and Yoga Protocol (IAHFNM & YP) for Hypertensive Participants

Abstract

Background Hypertension is a global health problem caused due to several lifestyle habits and dietary patterns and associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have reported the effectiveness of Meditation and Yoga combined therapy as an efficient intervention in the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, developing an integrated approach for monitoring this intervention is necessary. This study aimed to develop a structured tool for monitoring Meditation and yoga practices as a complementary therapy for Hypertensive Participants. Objective To design, validate, and conduct a feasibility analysis of the Integrated Approach of Heartfulness Meditation & Yoga Protocol (IAHFNM & YP) for Hypertensive patients. Methods 40 experts were selected to validate the contents of IAHFNM & YP which was designed after a thorough review of meditation and yoga literature. A total of 23 items were included and each item was rated as essential or not essential by the experts, based on which the content validity ratio (CVR), Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI), and Scale-Content Validity Index Average (S-CVI/Ave) were calculated. Reliability analysis and a pilot study for the feasibility of IAHFNM & YP for Hypertensive patients were also done. Statistical Results All 23 practices exhibited significant CVR (≥ 0.29), I-CVI (> 0.79), and S-CVI/Ave (> 0.9), thus the tool was found to have valid contents. The Cronbach’s alpha value for the tool was 0.95 which was highly reliable. Feasibility analysis in Hypertensive Participants showed that the tool is reliable and implementable. Conclusion The IAHFNM & YP tool designed for Hypertensive patients is valid, reliable, and feasible. The patients showed a willingness to continue with heartfulness meditation and yoga practices for participation in research for a longer duration. Further studies to confirm the tool's efficacy should be conducted with a large sample size.