A new pilot study led by the 兔子先生 College of Nursing examines the benefits of Qigong exercise on informal cancer caregivers. Qigong (pronounced 鈥渃hee gong鈥�) is similar to Tai Chi in that it incorporates slow, gentle movements with breath and body awareness. The study, funded by a three-year, $534,842 grant from the National Institutes of Health, could make way for a larger study of the benefits of a widely available mind-body intervention for cancer caregivers.
鈥淩educing caregiving distress has the potential to improve mental and physical health, leading to improvements in supportive care,鈥� said Pinky Shani, assistant professor of nursing. 鈥淭his study, the first providing Qigong virtually on tablets, will determine if it is a feasible intervention, and if it maintains its benefits in an online format with live, intermittent feedback from an instructor.鈥�
Informal cancer caregivers refer to a patient鈥檚 family or friends who provide regular care, a group numbering more than 43 million nationwide providing more than 41 hours of care each week, according to studies. While mind-body exercises are known to improve quality of life, Shani says not all caregivers can access such classes.
鈥淨igong promotes better connection between the mind and the body and has been shown to improve relaxation and balance while diminishing anxiety and depression,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e know this helps when people take the classes in groups, but we don鈥檛 know the extent of benefits for those who can access the program online at a time convenient for them.鈥�
The 54 participants will be randomly placed in one of three 12-week programs: a community-based class, an online class viewed on provided iPads, or a group offered a manual of activities to manage caregiving. Baseline assessments will be conducted at UH at Sugar Land at the beginning of the study, at 12-weeks, and at a 6-month follow-up.
鈥淲e want to explore whether participants adhere to their program, and if the program has an effect on their physical and mental health,鈥� Shani said. 鈥淭he results of this study may provide opportunities to create widely accessible mind-body interventions for cancer caregivers.鈥�
The study鈥檚 co-investigator is Dr. Peter Wayne of Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, and Harvard Medical School.