The effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards: A randomized controlled study.
Elcin Babaoglu, Aydan Akkurt Yalcinturk, Emel Erdeniz Gures, Asli Zeynep Sipahi, Selma Dogan
Explore (New York, N.Y.) 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103064 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Psychiatric inpatients |
| Intervention | Qigong |
| Dose | single 40-minute session |
| Duration | Single 40-minute session |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Psychiatric inpatients Psychiatric nursing Qigong, state anxiety |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | A single 40-minute Qigong exercise session significantly reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients compared to a control group. |
Abstract
Qigong is a mind-body exercise that originated in China and is often described as a form of meditation or movement therapy. While the existing literature has investigated the impact of Qigong exercises on trait anxiety in outpatients, there is limited research on their influence on state anxiety in inpatients. This study examined the effect of Qigong exercise on state anxiety levels of inpatients in psychiatric wards. This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Seventy inpatients participated in the study, with 35 in each group. In the intervention group, the STAI-I form was used to assess state anxiety levels before (Test 1) and after (Test 2) a single 40-minute session of Qigong. The mean post-test scores of the intervention group (27.20±5.57) were significantly lower than those of the control group (39.72±10.84). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean test-1 (38.42±9.7) and test-2 scores (27.2 ± 5.57) within the intervention group. A single 40-minute Qigong exercise session reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients and reduced the risk of potential adverse outcomes associated with state anxiety. Practitioners may consider the use of Qigong exercise in the management of state anxiety in clinical practice, when making clinical decisions.