title: Impact of medical Qigong on quality of life, fatigue, mood and inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substantial numbers of cancer patients use complementary medicine therapies, even without a supportive evidence base. This study aimed to evaluate in a randomized controlled trial, the use of Medical Qigong (MQ) compared with usual care to improve the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-two patients with a range of cancers were recruited. QOL and fatigue were measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue, respectively, and mood status by Profile of Mood State. The inflammatory marker serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was monitored serially.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis indicated that the MQ group significantly improved overall QOL (t(144) = -5.761, P < 0.001), fatigue (t(153) = -5.621, P < 0.001), mood disturbance (t(122) =2.346, P = 0.021) and inflammation (CRP) (t(99) = 2.042, P < 0.044) compared with usual care after controlling for baseline variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that MQ can improve cancer patients' overall QOL and mood status and reduce specific side-effects of treatment. It may also produce physical benefits in the long term through reduced inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord; Center for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney; Sydney Cancer Center, Concord Repatriation General Hospital. Electronic address: bsoh@med.usyd.edu.au.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mullan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord; Sydney Cancer Center, Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord; Sydney Cancer Center, Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord; Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavlakis
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kothe
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sydney, Notre Dame University, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein