A Remotely Delivered Tai Chi/Qigong Intervention for Older People Living With HIV: A Randomized Clinical Trial
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn if tai chi/qigong decreases depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV compared to a health education class. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does tai chi/qigong reduce depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV more than a health education class? What are the behavioral, psychological, and biological mechanisms in which tai chi/qigong affects depressive symptoms? Does tai chi/qigong affect depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV differently for men compared to women? Researchers will compare a 12-week, twice a week remotely delivered tai chi/qigong intervention to a health education class of the same duration to determine if it improves depressive symptoms among older people living with HIV. Participants will: Attend either a tai chi/qigong class twice a week for 12 weeks or a health education class of the same duration delivered via Zoom. Each class will be 45-60 minutes in length. Participate in 3 separate interviewer-administered interviews: at the time of enrollment, 3 months after the last class, and 9 months after the last class. Keep a tracking log of their home practice of tai chi/qigong (only participants in the intervention group). Use a biosensor (an earlobe sensor or chest strap) to measure their heart variability. Go to their local lab (e.g., Quest or Labcorp) for blood draw at the time of enrollment and at 9 month post intervention (this will only be a subset of participants).
‣ In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• The ability to provide consent assessed by the GAIN Cognitive Impairment Scale
• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Must be 50 - 75 years old.
• Must have been diagnosed with HIV by a healthcare professional (status confirmed at baseline by an uploaded picture of a recent lab report or medication bottle with name),
• Must have reliable internet access,
• Must have a smart phone
• No substantial experience (regular weekly practice for more than 3 months in the past 12 months) with mind-body interventions,
• Willing to participate for the length of the 12-week intervention and follow up assessments (a total of 12 months).
• Must report stable housing for the past 60 days and the next 60 days;
⁃ Must have mild to moderate depressive symptoms (a score more than 5 but less than 19 on the PHQ-9 scale)
⁃ Must speak and understand English