Table 5. Comparison of the mean Quality of Life Scale pre-test and post-test scores within groups.

		Experimental group (N=43)			Control group (N=43)
QLS sub-dimensions		Median	χ±SD	Test and p values	Median	χ±SD	Test and p values
General sense of health	Pre-test	50.00	44.07±31.16	Z=4.22, p=0.000**	45.00	44.93±31.49	Z=1.23, p=0.220
	Post-test	52.00	49.09±30.86		42.00	43.72±31.28
Physical function	Pre-test	55.00	57.79±31.70	Z=4.84, p=0.000**	60.00	57.56±32.79	Z=0.35, p=0.972
	Post-test	75.00	68.60±26.73		55.00	57.56±31.31
Physical role	Pre-test	50.00	53.49±43.84	Z=3.02, p=0.003*	25.00	49.42±49.25	Z=0.62, p=0.538
	Post-test	50.00	63.95±35.06		25.00	46.51±47.43
Mental role	Pre-test	33.33	51.94±27.51	Z=2.80, p=0.005*	33.33	48.84±26.58	Z=0.29, p=0.772
	Post-test	66.67	63.57±34.74		33.33	47.29±20.87
Social function	Pre-test	50.00	54.94±28.76	Z=5.14, p=0.000**	62.50	56.40±36.74	Z=0.70, p=0.486
	Post-test	75.00	69.48±23.83		62.50	55.23±34.96
Pain	Pre-test	22.00	22.88±16.87	Z=3.24, p=0.001*	31.00	24.37±17.01	Z=1.31, p=0.190
	Post-test	41.00	29.21±13.67		31.00	25.70±16.32
Vitality	Pre-test	30.00	30.47±19.45	Z=5.49, p=0.000***	35.00	33.49±23.54	Z=0.69, p=0.490
	Post-test	45.00	41.86±17.22		30.00	32.56±24.89
Mental function	Pre-test	50.00	54.94±28.76	Z=4.90, p=0.000**	48.00	44.28±24.77	Z=0.72, p=0.474
	Post-test	75.00	69.48±23.83		48.00	45.21±24.51
Physical health score	Pre-test	39.55	40.12±6.98	Z=0.25, p=0.804	41.86	40.21±6.11	Z=0.40, p=0.690
	Post-test	39.92	40.02±6.35		40.31	40.33±6.66
Mental health score	Pre-test	39.70	39.38±6.25	Z=1.02, p=0.308	38.16	38.52±4.62	Z=0.70, p=0.482
	Post-test	41.04	40.51±6.34		37.73	38.33±4.87

QLS = Quality of Life Scale; *p<0.01; **p<0.001; conformity of the variables with normal distribution was measured with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and therefore Mann-Whitney U tests were used