Overcash, J., Will, K.M., & Lipetz, D.W. (2013). The benefits of medical qigong in patients with cancer: A descriptive pilot study. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17, 654–658.
To determine if medical Qigong changed fatigue, depression, and sleep in patients with cancer and survivors
Participants were asked to review and complete a packet of information with instruments before their first class and after their last class. They were involved in a one and a half-hour class for five weeks that included the history of Qigong and movements for relaxation that they were encouraged to perform on their own.
Descriptive pre- and post-test design
Of the 38 participants, 38 completed the preintervention, 22 completed the postintervention, 16 did not attend the class, 15 completed the pre/post PSQI, and 19 completed the CES-D and BFI. There was a reduction in depression. The study found only CES-D scores to be improved postintervention, and all the scores were more favorable after the classes. Sleep scores were improved after classes.
This pilot study indicated a reduction in depression with the use of medical Qigong after five weeks. This is shorter than other studies in the literature that were performed over a 12-week period. The findings are limited by the small sample size.
Complementary and alternative medicine therapies are an alternative to offer patients for symptom management, especially to potentially help with depression. Nurses can educate patients about these types of alternatives to alleviate the symptoms of cancer treatment and its aftereffects. The findings of this study were limited by the sample size and high rate of patients who did not participate and did not show the effects of the intervention.