Qigong for cancer treatment: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials
- PMID: 17653892
- DOI: 10.1080/02841860701261584
Qigong for cancer treatment: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials
Abstract
Qigong is a mind-body integrative exercise or intervention from traditional Chinese medicine used to prevent and cure ailments, to improve health and energy levels through regular practice. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and critically evaluate the effectiveness of qigong used as a stand-alone or additional therapy in cancer care. We have searched the literature using the following databases from their respective inceptions through November 2006: MEDLINE, AMED, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 4, four Korean Medical Databases, Qigong and Energy Medicine Database from Qigong Institute and four Chinese Databases. Randomised and non-randomised clinical trials including patients with cancer or past experience of cancer receiving single or combined qigong interventions were included. All clinical endpoints were considered. The methodological quality of the trials was assessed using the Jadad score. Nine studies met our inclusion criteria (four were randomised trials and five were non-randomised studies). Eight of these trials tested internal qigong and one trial did not reported details. The methodological quality of these studies varies greatly and was generally poor. All trials related to palliative/supportive cancer care and none to qigong as a curative treatment. Two trials suggested effectiveness in prolonging life of cancer patients and one failed to do so. We conclude that the effectiveness of qigong in cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials.
Similar articles
-
A systematic review of the effectiveness of qigong exercise in supportive cancer care.Support Care Cancer. 2012 Jun;20(6):1121-33. doi: 10.1007/s00520-011-1378-3. Epub 2012 Jan 19. Support Care Cancer. 2012. PMID: 22258414 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Qigong exercise for the treatment of fibromyalgia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jul;18(7):641-6. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0347. Epub 2012 Jul 3. J Altern Complement Med. 2012. PMID: 22757663 Review.
-
Qigong for type 2 diabetes care: a systematic review.Complement Ther Med. 2009 Aug;17(4):236-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2009.05.001. Epub 2009 Jun 12. Complement Ther Med. 2009. PMID: 19632552 Review.
-
Internal qigong for pain conditions: a systematic review.J Pain. 2009 Nov;10(11):1121-1127.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2009.03.009. Epub 2009 Jun 25. J Pain. 2009. PMID: 19559656 Review.
-
Effects of Qigong on symptom management in cancer patients: A systematic review.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017 Nov;29:111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.09.005. Epub 2017 Sep 6. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017. PMID: 29122248 Review.
Cited by
-
Evidence for Choosing Qigong as an Integrated Intervention in Cancer Care: An Umbrella Review.Cancers (Basel). 2023 Feb 12;15(4):1176. doi: 10.3390/cancers15041176. Cancers (Basel). 2023. PMID: 36831519 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Chan-Chuang qigong with breathing meditation improves quality of life and interoceptive awareness in patients with breast cancer: a randomised controlled trial.Support Care Cancer. 2023 Jan 28;31(2):140. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07578-w. Support Care Cancer. 2023. PMID: 36707489 Clinical Trial.
-
Effects of Integrated Chinese Traditional Medicine and Conventional Western Medicine on the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Jan 7;2022:3123878. doi: 10.1155/2022/3123878. eCollection 2022. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022. PMID: 35035500 Free PMC article.
-
Mind-Body Therapies From Traditional Chinese Medicine: Evidence Map.Front Public Health. 2021 Dec 10;9:659075. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.659075. eCollection 2021. Front Public Health. 2021. PMID: 34988045 Free PMC article.
-
The Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong Exercise on Psychological Status in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Front Psychol. 2021 Nov 24;12:746975. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.746975. eCollection 2021. Front Psychol. 2021. PMID: 34899487 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous