Reversing Frailty Status among Post-treatment Older Cancer Survivors using Baduanjin Qigong: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Professor Cheung, Shuk Ting   (Principal Investigator (PI))

Dr Lee Michael Shing Fung   (Co-Investigator)

Professor Lin Chia-Chin   (Co-Investigator)

Professor Siu Ming Fai Parco   (Co-Investigator)

Professor Chau Pui Hing   (Co-Investigator)

Dr Lam Tai Chung   (Co-Investigator)

Professor Woo Jean   (Co-Investigator)

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2021-11-01

1350000

Reversing Frailty Status among Post-treatment Older Cancer Survivors using Baduanjin Qigong: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Baduanjin, Cancer survivors, Frailty, Older adults, Psychological distress, Qigong

Others - Medicine, Dentistry and Health

18192521

Health and Medical Research Fund - Full Grant

2020

On-going

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a 16-week Baduanjin qigong intervention on frailty, physical performance, psychological well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among post-treatment older cancer survivors. HYPOTHESES TO BE TESTED: Upon intervention completion, the intervention group will demonstrate greater reversed frailty status, more improvements in physical performance, better psychological well-being, and enhanced HRQoL compared to the control group. DESIGN and SUBJECTS: A randomized controlled, assessor-blind trial with intervention and control groups conforming to the CONSORT guidelines. A total of 226 cancer survivors aged over 65 who have completed curative treatment and screened as pre-frail or frail will be recruited. STUDY INSTRUMENTS: Fried Phenotype Criteria, Edmonton Frail Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, Geriatric Depression Scale, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire, and a background questionnaire. INTERVENTION: The intervention comprises of 1-hour qigong group training twice a week for 8 weeks, then 1-hour weekly follow-up group practice for 8 weeks and self-practice. The control group participants will attend light flexibility exercise group sessions at the same duration and frequency as the intervention group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frailty status (primary outcome), physical performance, psychological well-being, and HRQoL. DATA ANALYSIS: Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Generalized linear mixed-effect models will be used to assess between-group and within-group differences in the outcome variables (logit link for reversal of frailty status, and identity link for other outcomes). EXPECTED RESULTS: Baduanjin qigong can be used to reverse frailty status and improve other health outcomes in older cancer survivors.