Accepted for/Published in: Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal
Date Submitted: Dec 17, 2024
Date Accepted: Mar 17, 2025
Development of a Qigong Used for Insomnia Therapy (QUIT) in improving sleep quality and blood pressure in Chinese women with menopause: Pilot test of feasibility
ABSTRACT
Background:
A significant percentage (55%) of Chinese menopausal women suffer from insomnia, which is associated with elevated blood pressure. Despite this, the population remains under studied. Qigong, a simple form of Chinese exercise, has been shown to improve insomnia and blood pressure but has not been explicitly utilized to address menopausal symptoms in Chinese women. This study aims to test the efficacy of a Qigong-based intervention in enhancing sleep quality and blood pressure control in this population.
Objective:
To develop and pilot test the efficacy of a culturally sensitive Qigong Used for Insomnia Therapy (QUIT) intervention in improving sleep quality and blood pressure among Chinese menopausal women.
Methods:
From August 2023 to May 2024, this study utilized a one-group pretest-posttest design (n=22) to evaluate the QUIT intervention. The intervention consisted of a 10-minute Qigong demonstration video and a 20-minute insomnia counseling session at baseline, followed by a 10-minute phone-based check-in and counseling session two weeks later. Participants were instructed to engage in daily 10-minute Qigong practice for one month. Outcome measures, including sleep quality and blood pressure, were assessed at baseline and at the one-month follow-up. Sleep quality was evaluated using the 23-item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS-23), while blood pressure was measured using an Omron digital blood pressure monitor (model HEM-7201), adhering to Joint National Committee VII guidelines.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 53.78±8.79 years (range: 42-74). Most participants lived with relatives or friends (91%), were employed (74%), married (87%), and had higher education (61%). The mean SQS-23 score significantly improved from 18.59±11.41 at baseline to 15.64±9.65 (mean difference 2.96±7.04, p=0.03) after one month, indicating better sleep quality (the SQS-23 was reversely scored). There was a trend towards reduced systolic blood pressure from 115.47±14.95 at baseline to 113.59±13.93 (mean difference 0.89±1.64, p=0.26) after one month. Diastolic blood pressure also improved from 74.69±10.81 at baseline to 71.41±16.82 at one month (mean difference 3.28±4.04, p=0.43).
Conclusions:
The QUIT intervention was culturally sensitive, low-cost, and easy to implement. It showed significant improvements in sleep quality and trends towards reduced blood pressure in Chinese menopausal women. Further investigation is recommended to establish a robust intervention program across different states. Once validated, the QUIT program can be implemented in various clinical settings to help Chinese menopausal women achieve optimal sleep quality and blood pressure management. Clinical Trial: N/A
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