262373 Improving Employees' Wellness through Providing Yan Xin Qigong Training in Working Place – Evidence from a Before-After Study

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Xin Yan , The Chongqing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
Hua Shen , New Medical Science Research Institute, New York, NY
Hsiaowen C. Huang , Harvard University, Boston, MA
Yuhong Yang, PhD , School of Statistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Peihua Ni, MS , New England Traditional Chinese Medical & Health Culture Study Institute, Avon, CT
Chunling Lu, PhD , Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Background and Objectives Qigong is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine and traditional Chinese technologies to promoting and preserving health and wellness. Yan Xin Qigong (YXQG) was recommended to the public as a safe and effective Qigong method in 1998 by the agencies of the Chinese government. It was introduced to North America in 1990s. In this study, three high-tech companies in the US offered 12-week YXQG learning sessions to the employees for promoting their health and wellness. The objective of this study is to investigate whether participating in YXQG learning sessions improved the health and wellness of participants.

Methods A survey was conducted at the beginning and the end of the learning sessions. Participants voluntarily provided information on their socio-demographic variables, and their own assessment of physical and mental wellbeing, and work performance. Using quantitative methods, we compare the employees' health/wellness and work performance indicators at the beginning and the end of the program. Variables include current physical health, stress level, sick leave, sleeping quality, diet, etc. Various statistical methods were used to test the significance of change in these variables.

Results Preliminary analysis shows that there is a number of significant differences in average values of variables related to wellness before and after practicing YXQG. The participants reported better wellness indicators at the end of the learning program of YXQG.

Conclusion: Significant changes occurred in various wellness indicators after the 12-week YXQG learning program.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Occupational health and safety
Other professions or practice related to public health
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. To compare the physical and mental health variables reported at the beginning and the end of the YXQG program. 2. To demonstrate the effect of practicing YXQG on promoting employees’ wellness.

Keywords: Health Promotion, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I contributed to the research of the project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2082.0: Poster Session: Occupational Health Disparities