title: Qigong program on insomnia and stress in cancer patients: A case series report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the interest in Qigong as an alternative therapy has grown following reports of its ability to regulate psychological factors in cancer patients. This is a case series to evaluate the outcome measures of Qigong when used as an adjunct to standard medical care to treat insomnia and stress in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Qigong program was applied to four cancer patients with insomnia, stress, and anxiety. The program consisted of 30-min sessions involving exercise, patting of the 12 meridians, and spontaneous breathing exercises three times a week for a period of 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was measured as the primary outcome, while the Stress Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-General determined the secondary outcomes. Insomnia, stress, and anxiety levels were examined weekly, while quality of life was examined on the first visit and the last visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Stress Scale scores were reduced after conduct of the Qigong program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study could provide a better understanding of Qigong's influence on insomnia and stress in cancer patients. However, a larger controlled trial should be conducted to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seungmo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Qigong, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sangnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Osung
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive and Integrative Medicine Institute, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seonghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive and Integrative Medicine Institute, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungchul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungsoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Qigong; cancer; case series; insomnia; stress