Peer-Reviewed Research: Effect of Medical Qigong on Quality of Life, Fatigue, Mood, and Inflammation in Cancer Patients
The study by Oh et al. (2010) investigates the effects of Medical Qigong (MQ) on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, mood, and inflammation in cancer patients. The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial with 162 cancer patients, divided into an MQ intervention group and a control group receiving usual care. The primary outcomes included QOL assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale, fatigue measured with FACT-F, mood evaluated by the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and inflammation monitored via serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Methodology
Participants in the MQ group attended a 10-week program comprising twice-weekly, supervised 90-minute sessions that included physical activity, meditation, and energy-regulating breathing exercises. They were encouraged to practice at home daily. The control group received standard cancer care without additional complementary therapy. Data collection occurred at baseline and at the end of the 10-week intervention.
Results
The study found statistically significant improvements in the MQ group in all measured outcomes compared to the control group. Specifically:
Quality of Life: Participants in the MQ group exhibited notable improvements across all subdomains of QOL (physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being), indicating holistic benefits.
Fatigue: The MQ group showed a significant reduction in cancer-related fatigue.
Mood: Improvements were observed in mood status, particularly in reduced tension, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, although no significant change was found for anger, hostility, or confusion.
Inflammation: CRP levels decreased significantly in the MQ group, suggesting a reduction in inflammation.
These findings demonstrate the potential of MQ as a supportive therapy for managing physical and psychological distress in cancer patients.
Discussion
The authors highlight the value of MQ in addressing both physical symptoms and emotional stress, aligning with the psychoneuroimmunological model that supports the interconnectedness of mind-body practices with immune function and inflammation control. The observed decrease in CRP levels suggests MQ may influence inflammatory pathways, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear and warrant further research. MQ’s influence on mood and fatigue parallels findings in other mind-body therapies, such as yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
While the study provides valuable insights, the authors acknowledge limitations, including the inability to blind participants or practitioners, potential placebo effects, and relatively high dropout rates. These factors might influence the observed outcomes, suggesting future research should incorporate blinding strategies and consider long-term effects to confirm these findings.
Conclusion
This study supports MQ as a beneficial complementary approach to improve QOL, mood, fatigue, and inflammation in cancer patients, contributing to the broader integrative oncology field. Given these positive outcomes, MQ might be further explored as an adjunctive therapy for cancer care, particularly for symptom management and enhancement of psychological well-being.
Reference
Oh, B., Butow, P., Mullan, B., Clarke, S., Beale, P., Pavlakis, N., ... & Rosenthal, D. (2010). Impact of medical Qigong on quality of life, fatigue, mood, and inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Annals of Oncology, 21(3), 608-614.
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