This study aimed to observe how a six week qigong program influence patients with head and neck cancer during active radiotherapy treatment course. The quality of life, sleep dysfunction or depression and shoulder and neck function will be accessed by questionnaire, and ANS function will be objectively investigated using heart rate variability measurement.
The incidence of head and neck cancers is the 6th in Taiwan, and head and neck cancers are the 5th leading cause of cancer death, causing approximately 2000 death in 2010. Head and neck cancers patients usually require multimodality treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These treatments can cause functional deterioration and worsened quality of life during or after the treatment, and bring tremendous effects on patient's life. When radiotherapy is indicated, it requires 6 to 7 weeks treatment, and most patients suffered from different degrees of mucositis, dermatitis, xerostomia and neck and shoulder tightness during radiotherapy. How to improve quality of life for these patients during radiotherapy is an important task. Qigong is a mind-body exercise or therapy; it can improve quality of life, such as fatigue, sleep dysfunction and depression through regulation of breath and simple physical exercise. Some found that the qigong can decrease inflammation and show some impact on accommodation of ANS in cancer patients. Most studies focus on how qigong effect on cancer survivors, however, this study is aimed to observe how a six week qigong program influence patients with head and neck cancer during active radiotherapy treatment course. The quality of life, sleep dysfunction or depression and shoulder and neck function will be accessed by questionnaire, and ANS function will be objectively investigated using heart rate variability measurement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
a 30 minutes exercise program, 3 times a week and lasts for 6 weeks during radiotherapy course
patients enrolled in this group are informed orally to have exercise only and are arranged in a waiting list
Kaohsihung Medical University Hospital
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
RECRUITINGChange of quality of life
The changes of quality of life before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy complete are evaluated using University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) to access the quality of life
Time frame: before radiotherapy starts and after radiotherapy complete. (The duration of radiotherapy course is usually about 6 to 7 weeks)
Change of depression and anxiety
The changes of the level of depression and anxiety before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy complete are accessed using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)
Time frame: before radiotherapy start and after radiotherapy complete. (The duration of radiotherapy course is usually about 6 to 7 weeks)
Change of sleep quality
The change of sleep quality is evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: before radiotherapy start and after radiotherapy complete (The duration of radiotherapy course is usually about 6 to 7 weeks)
Change of Autonomic nervous system (ANS) function
The change of ANS function is accessed by heart rate variability
Time frame: before radiotherapy start and after radiotherapy complete(The duration of radiotherapy course is usually about 6 to 7 weeks)
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