Group Discussion 6-1
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Dec 6, 2023
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Case Study 4: Qi Therapy Used to Relieve Symptoms of Cancer in a Terminally Ill Cancer
Patient
Jane suffered from late-stage ovarian cancer and was experiencing unbearable abdominal
discomfort and pain, depression, and fatigue. Four sessions of qi therapy on alternate days were
given to Jane over a seven-day period. After 20 minutes of qi therapy, she experienced
improvements in mood and alertness, and a reduction in pain, anxiety, depression, discomfort,
and fatigue, on both the first and last days of the interventions. Furthermore, the scores
recorded on the last day for most symptoms were improved relative to those recorded on the
first day. Although the result of this case study does not constitute conclusive evidence, the data
suggest that qi therapy may have some beneficial effects on some symptoms of cancer.
Prompt
Apply your disciplinary perspective to evaluate the intervention strategies implied by the case.
In other words, your task is to defend your professional viewpoint regarding the
most
effective
interventions. Then, in your responses, you will work as a group to refine those initial
assessments.
Illustrate the use of complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches to address
the health challenges in the case. To what extent is qi therapy effective in curing cancer?
Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Describe the influence of politics, economics, culture, and religion on the use of the CIH
approach described in the case. To what extent does the political, economic, or cultural
context impact the effectiveness of CIH approaches like qi therapy? In other words,
when, why, and how would you recommend using CIH approaches? Be sure to
substantiate your claims with evidence.
Hello everyone!
Complementary and integrative health (CIH) have grown extremely favored in most parts of the
world, even with the use of modern medicine. According to Holtz, CIH is “a broad set of diverse
medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not part of that country’s own
tradition and are nonmainstream approaches” (2022). Understanding what CIH means helps to
address the health challenge of the scenario about qi therapy in Jane’s case. From researching qi
therapy, most articles state that qi therapy can help reduce fatigue in cancer patients. Eldridge
states qi therapy “may have an effect on reducing inflammation associated with cancer or cancer
therapy or increasing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells” (2022). In Jane’s case,
the sessions of qi therapy are helping with some of the symptoms she is having which is a
positive response to the cancer. In terms of curing cancer, it doesn’t seem there is enough
evidence to relate that qi therapy cures cancer, but it certainly can improve a cancer patient’s
symptoms that are associated with cancer. According to Chang, Qi therapy has “been
demonstrated to slow the development of disability, reduce fatigue, and improved both quality of
life and sense of well-being” (2019).
The influence of politics, economics, culture, and religion are important factors on the use of
CIH practices across the world. These factors impact the effectiveness of CIH approaches like qi
therapy when people start to see results of what this type of treatment can do. Though CIH is
increasing in popularity, people in developed countries are continuing to use modern western
medicine. Politics influences CIH methods when the government establishes a program to
explore options of CIH. According to Holtz, “the support by the U.S. government has allowed
NCCIH to explore CIH practices in the context of rigorous science, training of CIH researchers,
and dissemination of authoritative information to the public and professionals” (2022). This
allows for a better understanding of CIH to patients who may want to try a different type of
medicine. The economy influences the use of CIH methods “because traditional and herbal
medicines are less expensive and more widely accessible than western medicine” (Holtz, 2022).
In countries that have a better economy, the use of CIH is encouraged though most people have
to pay out of pocket to receive these services. Culture and religion are an influence on CIH
approaches because many cultures base their practices off of what they are influenced by in their
religion. As stated by Holtz, “traditional Chinese medical care and practice are strongly
influenced by Chinese tradition and religion, including Confucius principles, Taoism, the theory
of yin and yang, and Buddhism” (2022). When understanding the influence that these factors
have on CIH practices can help to address the effectiveness of what CIH can really do for a
patient. In my opinion, there are different factors of when, why, and how I would recommend
CIH to a patient. I would recommend using CIH methods when a patient is having symptoms,
such a Jane in the case, that aren’t being cured with modern western medicine. Why I would
recommend CIH to a patient is because sometimes western medicine doesn’t always alleviate the
pain or problem a patient may be having. For instance, in Jane’s case, she had improvements in
her symptoms after she did a few sessions of qi therapy. The how is that CIH methods can be a
positive type of medicine for people who are experiencing symptoms that may not be fixed by
modern medicine. Some believe the only way to alleviate pain is through medications, but
allowing CIH to come in and redirect the pain through other means such as qi therapy can help
patients to experience less pain and fatigue.
References
Chang, P. S., & Knobf, T. (2019). Qigong Exercise and Tai Chi in Cancer Care.
Asia-Pacific
journal of oncology nursing
,
6
(4), 315–317. https://doi.org/10.4103/apjon.apjon_34_19
Eldridge, L. (2022).
Can qigong help people with cancer?
. Verywell Health.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/qigong-for-cancer-2249315
Holtz, C. (2022). Global Health Care: Issues and Policies (4thed.). Jones &Bartlett Learning.
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