Tai-Chi and Aerobic Exercise to Improve Emotional Symptom Cluster in Late-stage Lung Cancer Patients
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of Tai-Chi and aerobic exercise on the emotional symptom cluster, and the underlying mechanism of that cluster, in late-stage lung cancer patients. Participants will be randomized into one of three groups: 1) Tai-Chi group, 2) aerobic exercise group, or 3) self-management control group. Both the Tai-Chi and aerobic exercise groups will attend twice-weekly group classes for 16 weeks (32 total contact hours). The self-management control group will receive written information regarding the recommended level of physical activity.
• diagnosed with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer confirmed by pathology, with no other cancer diagnosis within the previous year;
• a current Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0-2;
• experience of sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and fatigue in the past week (rating of 1 or more on a 0-10 numeric rating scale \[NRS\] for each symptom);
• able to communicate in Cantonese, Mandarin, or English;
• conscious and alert