Abstract
Background: Physical activity improves quality of life and reduces the risks of breast cancer up to 30 - 40 percent. Qi-Gong is a form of exercise widely acknowledged by Asian survivors as health promoting, despite a lack of research evidence. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Qi-Gong on the Quality of Life (QOL) of survivors. Methods/ Design: A total of 114 women who had been treated for stage I or II breast cancer at least 12 months previously were randomly assigned to supervised aerobic exercise (n = 38), Qi-Gong exercise (n = 38), or usual care (n = 38). Supervised 1.5 hour exercise sessions took place three times per week for 8 weeks (face to face—once a week and home follow up twice a week). Outcomes included QoL (FACT-G), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B)], distress [Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)] assessed at baseline and at the 8-week follow-up. Secondary measures included exercise Self Efficacy Scale (ESS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) and exercise behavior (log) Two way (group × time) repeated measures ANOVA will examine differences between groups over time. Discussion: This research will provide insights on the efficacy of a 8 weeks structured Qi-Gong program designed for quality of life. The details of the Qi-Gong and the placebo (line dancing) over 8 weeks are delineated, with the study protocol for researcher’s replication. The result of the study can contribute towards understanding how Qi-Gong over other physical activity can be used for self managing physical health for people with breast cancer, an increasingly acknowledged chronic condition. Conclusion: Women with breast cancer need to start engaging in physically healthyactive living on a day-to-day basis for prevention of recurrence, mortality and wellbeing. However, many requires professional support with a structured intervention. This design of this study provides a protocol for 8 weeks Qi-Gong with implications on healthy survivorship, and a possible reduction on healthcare costs related to long-term effects and co morbidities that can be prevented via physical activity.
Highlights
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer for women above age 20 for all races in Malaysia. 31.1% of all cancer in year 2003-2005 is breast cancer
Many requires professional support with a structured intervention. This design of this study provides a protocol for 8 weeks Qi-Gong with implications on healthy survivorship, and a possible reduction on healthcare costs related to long-term effects and co morbidities that can be prevented via physical activity
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) is a 44-item self report on multidimensional health related Quality of Life (QOL). It consists of FACT-G aspects: physical well-being (PWB), functional well-being (FWB), emotional well-being (EWB), social/family well-being (SWB) and an additional part of Breast Cancer Subscale (BCS)
Summary
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer for women above age 20 for all races in Malaysia. 31.1% of all cancer in year 2003-2005 is breast cancer. Y. Lee contributed to the write up. Prompt, continuing education and support are fundamental basic needs of cancer patients [9], but, in most developing countries like Malaysia, education and emotional support are hardly essential parts of the clinical practice guidelines This neglect is serious since women with breast cancer require intense and prolonged treatments [10], and many of the cancer treatment’s aftereffects are not identified yet. Physical activity has been found to enhance QOL in breast cancer survivors [14,15,16,17]. Physical activity can improve physical fitness, reduce fatigue, increase functioning, and enhance overall QOL in breast cancer survivors both during after treatment(s) [18]. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of Qi-Gong and its relationship with QOL of breast cancer survivors at post-treatment phase. This paper aim to present the study protocol of Qigong in contrast to another physical activity (i.e. Line dancing) and delineates the protocol of 8 weeks sessions for QiGong and Line Dancing so that other researcher can replicate the entire study
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