Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anne M. Doherty-Gilman, MPH¹, Paul G. Richardson, MD², Donna Neuberg, ScD³, Parisa Momtaz², Jeffrey Bears, MPH³, Barbara Odaka, MS, PT⁴, Ramel Rones⁵, Catherine E. Kerr, PhD⁶, Fareeza Nazir, MPH², Mary Jane Ott, MN, MA, RNCS¹, David S. Rosenthal, MD¹, and Arnold Freedman, MD². (1) Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, #G133, Boston, MA 02115, 617-632-3810, Anne_Doherty@dfci.harvard.edu, (2) Department of Hematologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, (3) Department of Biostatistical Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, (4) Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, (5) R&R Mind-Body Therapies, 283 Stratford St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, (6) Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115

Introduction: Qigong,a Chinese health practice incorporating mindfulness and exercise,is used increasingly by cancer patients in America today. Literature indicates the combination of exercise and stress-reduction may have beneficial effects on immunity and quality-of-life, so pts are choosing to incorporate programs like qigong into their careplans.Evaluating therapeutic programs like this for safety and inclusion in healthcare systems is important so that better resources are available to support and empower patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of integrating qigong and comparing it to modified exercise in an urban healthcare setting. To determine safety, describe participants,and assess design and use of physical and psychosocial tools as patients engaged in qigong or exercise.

Methods: Using a crossover design,patients were randomly assigned to qigong or exercise as initial experience.Both classes involved 90mins structured activity.Psychosocial instruments(POMS,FACT-Sp,Brief COPE)administered, immune function and goniometry tests performed.

Results: 121 patients contacted. 15patients enrolled(8breast cancer, 4prostate cancer, 3leukemia); 9women,6men; 12completed both interventions with 1week interval. ECOG status 0amongst 10recorded. Ages not significantly different for groups. No adverse events. Mean differences in immunophenotyping components ranged-5%to5%,coefficients of variation ranged2.7to19.3. 6minute walk: 56 (-63,1225) post-pre. POMS: Range of total: –32 to184. Facit-Sp:Median 36,range20-47. Brief Cope-Range:2-8.

Conclusion: Implementation of qigong in an urban heathcare setting and use of specific physical and psychosocial instruments proved feasible and appeared safe in this population. Pts felt vigorous, had high level of faith,and good at coping. Patterns between interventions not apparent. Study design feasible with recruitment challenging due to rigorous design therefore should be adapted in future studies.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Define qigong.
• Explain why qigong may be an appropriate therapeutic resource for patients diagnosed with cancer.
• Describe the chosen study design and the study instruments.
• Discuss the results of this pilot study on qigong including the patient characteristics and the feasibility of the study design and implementation.
• Understand the public health responsibility for providing safe and efficacious integrative therapy services.
• Describe the challenges and opportunities for implementing a qigong program into an urban healthcare setting.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No