Effect of pranayama on perceived stress, well‐being and quality of life of frontline healthcare professionals on COVID‐19 duty: A quasi‐randomised clinical trial

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) had to perform their duties under extremely trying circumstances during the COVID‐19 pandemic. High expectations further increased HCP's stress, which had an adverse impact on their mental health. The present quasi‐randomised clinical trial examined how a specially designed pranayama regimen practised for 4 weeks affected the mental health of frontline, exposed HCPs in terms of perceived stress, wellness and quality of life. A total of 280 frontline HCPs on COVID‐19 duties in five public hospitals of Delhi, India participated in this study. The intervention ( n = 123) and control ( n = 127) groups were alternately allocated. Data on perceived, self‐reported mental health of HCPs were collected at baseline and post‐test at the end‐line (after 28 days of practice). We report that the intervention group ( n = 123) had a substantial lower perceived stress at post‐test at the end‐line in comparison to the control group ( n = 127, p ‐value: .028). Their overall WHO Quality‐of‐Life score also improved, of which the score on psychological domain increased significantly ( p ‐value: .019). Accordingly, we conclude that a 28‐day practice of the pranayama by the frontline HCPs in COVID‐19 hospitals significantly decreased their level of perceived stress and enhanced their psychological quality of life.