COVID-19-related depression, anxiety, and stigma are expected to have short-term andlong-term adverse impacts on mental health, help seeking and preventive behaviours inaffected individuals, including care providers and the general population. Health qigong(HQ), a form of traditional Chinese martial arts with emphasis placed on the bodymovement and status of mind, has been demonstrated to enhance both physical and mentalhealth. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), another mind-body treatment, have becomeincreasingly popular for treating a number of health problems. This study proposes anintegrated intervention that combines the effects of HQ and MBIs (iMBHQ) to improve themental wellbeing of COVID-19 survivors, caregivers including healthcare providers andfamily members as well as the general public in the community.
Objective:
The study aims to examine whether iMBHQ can improve the physical and psychological
wellness of COVID-19 survivors, caregivers and the general public in the community.
Procedures:
Participants will be randomized into either the treatment group (16-week iMBHQ program)
or the control group. For the treatment group, a face-to-face initial session will be
arranged for each participant to introduce the practice of the most essential skills,
particularly mindfulness, the basic movements of Qigong and the use of the resources
package. Following the initial session, participants will kick off 8 bi-weekly online
sessions of MBIs approximately two hours each via the Mobile App. Afterwards,
participants will be asked to practice Qigong for 30 minutes per day with five days
weekly for another 8 weeks. Follow-up sessions will be conducted by an experienced coach
via the Mobile App. After the first 16-week intervention, booster sessions will be
provided every 3 months to revise the interventions and follow-up assessments will be
completed every 6 months for 2 years.
Participants:
will be asked to practice Qigong for 30 minutes per day with five days weekly for another
8 weeks. Follow-up sessions will be conducted by an experienced coach via the Mobile App.
After the first 16-week intervention, booster sessions will be provided every 3 months to
revise the interventions and follow-up assessments will be completed every 6 months for 2
years.
Results:
The investigators predict that the integrated intervention developed will significantly
reduce fear, anxiety and stigma in COVID-19 survivors, their caregivers and the general
public by improving stress, cognitive, and mood coping strategies.
Conclusions:
The findings will be able to explain the effects and outcomes of integrated intervention
derived from the hypothetical model which the investigators will propose. The outcomes
will also help transform the hypothetical model into a psychosocial and rehabilitation
theory, which can explain many of the psychosocial and behavioral consequences that may
hinder the recovery of those affected by COVID-19 and hinder their caregivers and the
general public to seek help and take preventive measures against the disease. The
findings will also demonstrate that the integrated intervention developed by the research
group will be the long-term and cost-effective rehabilitation management approaches for
COVID-19 survivors, caregivers, and the general public to promote their physical and
psychological wellbeing in the community
Other: Mindfulness-based Health Qigong Intervention
Participants are introduced the practice of the most essential skills, particularly
mindfulness, the basic movements of Qigong and the use of the resources package.
Following the initial session, participants will kick off 8 bi-weekly online sessions of
Mindfulness-based interventions approximately two hours each via the Mobile App.
Afterwards, participants will be asked to practice Qigong for 30 minutes per day with
five days weekly for another 8 weeks. Follow-up sessions will be conducted by an
experienced coach via the Mobile App. After the first 16-week intervention, booster
sessions will be provided every 3 months to revise the interventions and follow-up
assessments will be completed every 6 months for 2 years.
Inclusion Criteria:
- COVID-19 survivors: people aged 18 years or above who were infected by COVID-19
(both symptomatic and asymptomatic) and clinically recovered
- Caregivers of COVID-19 patients, including family members or medical professionals
who have contacts with patients diagnosed COVID-19 aged 18 years or above
- General healthy public aged 18 years or above
Exclusion Criteria:
- people diagnosed severe and/or chronic conditions that prevent the practice of
Qigong (e.g., acute exacerbation of dyspnoea, severe cardiopulmonary disease) or
mindfulness intervention,
- people with severe psychiatric disorder
- people who have regular psychiatric follow-ups
Princess Margaret Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Investigator: Travis,Tsz-kwun Law, Mr
Contact: (852)29901017
tk120@ha.org.hk
Travis,Tsz-kwun Law, Mr
29901017
tk120@ha.org.hk
Wing Hong, Hector TSANG, Prof, Principal Investigator
Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences