Tai Chi and health-related quality of life in nursing home residents.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) that is good is regarded as the goal of elderly residential care. However, limited evidence exists indicating a promising intervention that can achieve this goal. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Tai Chi on HRQOL in nursing home residents. DESIGN: A nonequivalent pretest-posttest control-group design. METHODS: A convenience sample of 139 residents from six nursing homes in Hong Kong was used. The experimental group (n=66) joined a 26-week Tai Chi program, while the control group (n=73) continued with usual daily activities. The physical and mental components of HRQOL were designated as the dependent variables. Resident satisfaction was considered as a covariate. Doubly multivariate repeated measures analysis of covariance was done to examine the intervention effect. FINDINGS: After adjusting for the confounding effect of resident satisfaction, a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the physical and mental components of HRQOL between the experimental and control groups was found. Findings showed significant improvement in HRQOL after residents practiced Tai Chi. CONCLUSIONS: These investigators contribute additional knowledge about the health benefits of Tai Chi among nursing home residents and indicates support for its use in this population to improve HRQOL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Tai Chi has unique characteristics as a health exercise that is particularly suitable for nursing home residents. The inclusion of Tai Chi exercise in elderly residential care practice is recommended.

Author information

Author/s: Lee, Linda Y K (LY); Lee, Diana T F (DT); Woo, Jean (J);

Affiliation: Nursing Team, School of Science & Technology, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. yklee(-atsign-)ouhk.edu.hk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing / Sigma Theta Tau (J Nurs Scholarsh), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 41 (issue 1) : pp 35-43

Dates: Created 2009/04/01; Completed 2009/08/13;

PMID: 19335676, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/21/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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