A Randomized, Wait-list Controlled Trial of a Qigong Intervention Program on Telomerase Activity and Psychological Stress in Abused Chinese Women
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 271
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Change in telomerase activity
研究概览
简要总结
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a qigong intervention program on telomerase activity in Chinese women with a history of intimate partner violence.
详细描述
Qigong is a mind-body exercise rooted in the paradigm of traditional Chinese medicine, aiming to achieve a harmonious flow of energy (qi) in the body through gentle movements and is thus considered as a holistic health practice towards promoting physical and mental well-being and improving longevity. It was suggested that qigong exercise, as a stress management strategy, could be effective in improving psychological symptoms, as well as enhancing cellular telomerase activity by reducing oxidative stress level and regulating immune response.
The study is to evaluate the effects of a qigong intervention on telomerase activity and pro-inflammation cytokines, perceived stress, perceived coping, and depressive symptoms in Chinese women with a history of intimate partner violence. The study design is a randomized, wait-list controlled design with intervention and wait-list control groups. A total of 240 Chinese abused women will be recruited. The qigong intervention program consists of: (i) a 2-hr group qigong training twice a week for 6 weeks; (ii) weekly group follow-up of a 1-hour group qigong exercise for 4 months; and (iii) self-practice of qigong exercise for 30 minutes each day throughout the intervention period lasting 5.5 months. It is hypothesized that the participants in the intervention group will have higher levels of telomerase activity and perceived coping, and lower levels of pro-inflammation cytokines, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms, on completion of a qigong intervention program, compared to abused Chinese women in the wait-list control group.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Supportive Care
- 盲法
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •18 years of age or older,
- •willing to undertake the qigong intervention program,
- •available for all testing points,
- •receptive to random allocation, and
- •assessed to be abused by an intimate partner in the preceding year or longer, based on the Chinese Abuse Assessment Screen.
排除标准
- •had participated in qigong training or other mind body intervention within the previous 6 months, or
- •have serious medical conditions that might limit their participation in qigong exercise (based on our previous experience, such conditions include cancer, severe obesity, narcolepsy, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia), or
- •have psychiatric disorders, or
- •use medication or other psychological intervention for stress, or
- •are abused by someone who is not their intimate partner.
研究组 & 干预措施
Qigong training
a total of 103 hours over a period of 5.5 months, consisting of:
- Group learning and practice: a 2-hour qigong exercise training session will be provided by a qigong master twice a week for six consecutive weeks (24 hours),
- Weekly group follow-up: a 1-hour qigong exercise will be conducted with reinforcement of learning and remedial teaching by a qigong master once a week for four consecutive months (16 hours) after the group learning and practice, and
- Self-practice: participant will engage in qigong exercise for 30 minutes every day for the whole intervention period lasting 5.5 months (63 hours).
干预措施: Qigong training (Behavioral)
Wait-list control- Health talks
Monthly health education talks unrelated to qigong will be provided starting from the point when the intervention group starts the qigong weekly follow-up.Once the intervention group has completed the qigong intervention program, the wait-list control group will receive the qigong exercise training.
干预措施: Wait-list control- Health talks (Other)
结局指标
主要结局
Change in telomerase activity
时间窗: pre-intervention (baseline) and post-intervention (5.5 months later)
For each participant, 10 ml of peripheral blood will be collected for measurements of telomerase activity at two time points: pre-intervention (T0) and post-intervention (T2) in the intervention group, as well as in wait-list control group before qigong training.
次要结局
- Change in level of pro-inflammatory cytokines(pre-intervention (baseline) and post-intervention (5.5 months later))
- Change in sleep disturbance(pre-intervention (baseline), post-training (6 weeks later) and post-intervention (5.5 months later))
- Change in perceived stress(pre-intervention (baseline), post-training (6 weeks later) and post-intervention (5.5 months later))
- Change in perceived coping(pre-intervention (baseline), post-training (6 weeks later) and post-intervention (5.5 months later))
- Change in depressive symptoms(pre-intervention (baseline), post-training (6 weeks later) and post-intervention (5.5 months later))
研究者
Professor Agnes Tiwari
Professor and Head
The University of Hong Kong