The effects of an integrated mindfulness-based tai chi chuan programme on sleep disturbance among community-dwelling elderly people: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Sunny Ho-Wan Chan, Siu-Man Ng, Chong Ho Yu, Ching-Man Chan, Shu-Mei Wang, Wai Chi Chan
Trials September 24, 2022 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06737-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial protocol Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 256 |
| Population | Community-dwelling older adults with sleep problems |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MBTCC) Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) Sleep hygiene education (SHE) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with follow-up at 6 months and 1 year after the intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Tai ji Aged Independent living Randomized controlled trial Sleep disturbance Community-dwelling elderly Mind-body interventions |
| Registration | NCT05396092 |
| Key findings | The protocol proposes that an integrated mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan programme may produce synergistic improvements in sleep disturbance among community-dwelling older adults, and that the trial will test this against mindfulness-based intervention alone, Tai Chi Chuan alone, and sleep hygiene education over a 12-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Background: Many elderly individuals who experience sleep disturbances would consider complementary and alternative medicine as an alternative therapeutic option in light of the limitations of traditional treatments. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) are two alternative forms of complementary and alternative medicine. They both share the common feature of a focus on breathing but represent distinct approaches with different mechanisms and philosophical orientations. The trial described in this protocol aims to evaluate the effects of an integrated form of mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MBTCC) programme and the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects over a 12-month follow-up.
Methods: The planned study is a four-armed randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. A total of 256 community-dwelling older adults with sleep problems will be recruited and randomized into four groups: (1) an MBTCC group, (2) an MBI group, (3) a TCC group, and (4) a sleep hygiene education (SHE) control group. The outcome measures in terms of insomnia severity, interoception, sleep-wake pattern, health status, rumination, and hyperarousal level will be collected at four time points: at baseline (T1), after the 8-week intervention (T2), 6 months after the intervention (T3), and 1 year after the intervention (T4). In addition, qualitative evaluation through focus group interviews will be conducted at the end of the 12-month assessment period (T4).
Discussion: This trial will illuminate the synergetic effect of combining both MBIs and TCC on optimizing improvements in sleep disturbance. The findings from this study can provide empirical support for this integrated treatment, which provides an alternative for healthcare professionals in elderly service to select appropriate practices to treat elderly people with sleep disturbance. It can further help to lessen the growing public health burden of sleep disturbances among the elderly living in the community.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov . NCT05396092 . Published on 24 May 2022.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |