An Analysis of Self-Evaluation of Health of 214 Practicers of Health Qigong • Yi Jin Jing

The human body is a complicated macrosystem. Therefore we must examine the overall state of the life activities of the human body on various layers an in various aspects from the psychological, physiological, and social points of view. The physical, mental, and social orientations must be taken into consideration of the health of the human body [1]. 10 items capable of reflecting the life quality of old and middle-aged people were selected in this study. They involved the treatment-seeking behavior, physical health, and mental health. Questionnaires were used to analyze the self-evaluation of health of 214 Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing practicers in order to evaluate the effects of Health Qigong on optimizing the overall state of the life activities of the human body and to provide scientific basis for the promotion and popularization of Health Qigong.

1. Objects and methodology

1.1 Objects

Old students from University for the Aged People of Jiangxi Province and Activity Center for Retired Cadres of the Provincial Party Committee of Jiangxi are selected in this research as the experimental objects. These objects are aged between 50 and 70 and do not have any history of systematic physical exercises or severe diseases. A total of 214 took the health questionnaire. 115 of them belonged to the experimental group (35 males and 80 females; 63.49±5.84 years of age) and 99 belonged to the control group (23 males and 76 females; 62.54±6.28 years of age). There was no statistically significant difference between surveyed objects of both groups in terms of sex composition, educational background, and average age (P＞0.05). This indicates that surveyed objects of both groups had good comparability.

1.2. Method

Objects of the experimental group practiced Health Qigong for 1h every morning for at east 5 days a week. Instructors were assigned to coach and instruct these objects. Official versions released by Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China are used as the basis for the routines, requirements, and teaching guidance of Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing[2]. The control group does not participate in Health Qigong exercise or any other systematic fitness activity.

Both the experimental group and the control group were required to take self-evaluation with the health questionnaires respectively before the experiment, 3 months after the experiment, 6 months after the experiment, and 1 year after the experiment. The “Health Questionnaire” contained general information and 10 observation items related to the health status. These 10 items were: ①Hospitalization: The number of times by which the subject had been hospitalized in the past year. ②Hospital visits: The number of times by which the subject had seen a doctor in the past 6 months. ③Medication: The frequency by which the patient had taken medication in the past 6 months. Whether the patient took medication occasionally, frequently, or continuously. ④ Medical expenses: Expenses for medical care for the past 1 year (including personal-paid and state-paid medical expenses and expenses for the purchase of health care products) divided into the following four classes: below 450, 450~899, 900~1599, and above 1600. ⑤Vigor status; ⑥ Mental state; ⑦ Diet; ⑧ Defecation; ⑨ Sleep quality; and ⑩ memory. The last six items were related to the symptoms felt by the test subjects during daily life.

Compilation of the health questionnaire: A comprehensive retrieval and analysis was done on the past foreign and domestic literature about quality of life in order to determine the preliminary theoretical dimensions of the health questionnaire. According to the semi-structured interviews with 30 hospital patients of the Medical Department of Jiangxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we preliminarily decided on 20 questions capable of reflecting the life quality of old and middle-aged people. They involved the treatment-seeking behavior, physical health, and mental health. And five specialists in clinical medicine and psychology (having professional titles higher than associate chief physician/associate professor) evaluated the aforementioned items and chose the first 10 items for the preliminary questionnaire. Then the preliminary questionnaire was used for prediction among 30 old and middle-aged hospital patients and 30 normal and middle-aged persons. Significant differences were found between the scores of both groups. And the test results were analyzed to derive Factor I (treatment-seeking behavior, 4 items in total) and Factor II (health status; 6 items in total). The correlation coefficient between Factor I and Factor II was 0.76, indicating that the questionnaire had good empirical validity and content validity. In order to verify the retest reliability of the health questionnaire, 30 old persons were retested after 3 weeks. The correlation coefficient of the retest was r=0.84, indicating that the questionnaire had good reliability.

SPSS10.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data. According to the principles of statistics, before-and-after test results of both the experimental group and the control group are respectively put to intra-group and inter-group difference tests.

2. Results

2.1 Hospitalization analysis

Analysis results in Table 1 shows that after 6 months of exercise, the number of times of hospitalization of the experimental group did not change significantly but as the duration of exercise reached 1 year, the number of times of hospitalization significantly decreased (P＜0.01). And no significant difference was found in comparison between results acquired after 6 months of exercise and results acquired after 1 year of exercise, indicating that the health-preserving effect of Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing is a gradual process. This could also be verified through comparison between the experimental group and the control group. Both the experimental group and the control group had the same number of times of hospitalization before the experiment and after 6 months of experiment. But after 1 years of the experiment, the experimental group had significantly less times of hospitalization than the control group (P＜0.05). No significant difference was found in the number of times of hospitalization of the control group before and after the experiment (P＞0.05).

Table 1. Comparison of Hospitalization between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)x2

0 time 1 time 2 times 0 time 1 time 2 times

Before experiment4654153653101.038

After 6 months545473554103.408

After 1 year55582345698.295*

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=3.549, x22=10.886**, x23=2.930;Control group x21=0.023, x22=0.192, x23=0.103)

Notes: x21: comparison between values measured respectively before experiment and after 6m of experiment; x22: comparison between values measured respectively before experiment and after 1y of experiment; x23: comparison between values measured respectively after 6m and after 1y of experiment; ** means P<0.05; ** means P<0.01; (Same as below).

2.2 Hospital visits analysis

Analysis results in Table 2 shows that after 1 year of exercise, the experimental group had significantly less hospital visits then they did before the exercise (P＜0.01), while no significant change was found in the number of hospital visits after 6 months or after 1 year (P＞0.05). By inter-group comparison between the experimental group and the control group, both groups had the same number of hospital visits before the experiment (P＞0.05). And the experimental group had less hospital visits than the control group after 6 months and after 1 year of the experiment. And the change measured after 1 year was greater than the change measured after 6 months (P＜0.05 by intra-group comparison after 6 months; P＜0.05 by intra-group comparison after 1 year).

Table 2. Comparison of Hospital Visits between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99) x2

0 time 1-3 times 4-6 times 7 times↑ 0 time 1-3 times 4-6 times 7 times↑

Before experiment2652552739510.894

After 6 months2964400739538.989*

After 1 year0117430010405927.067**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=4.210, x22=14.665**, x23=4.353;;Control group x21=2.038, x22=4.285, x23=2.025)

2.3 Medication analysis

Analysis results in Table 2 show that after the experiment, the experimental group had a lower frequency of medication. This change started mainly after 6 months and a significant difference was developed after 1 year of exercise (P＜0.01). And the control group had the same frequency of medication before and after the experimental group (P＞0.05). By intra-group comparison, both the experimental group and the control group had the same frequency of medication before the experiment (P＞0.05) and after 6 months of experiment (P＞0.05). But after 1 years of the experiment, the experimental group had significantly less frequency of medication than the control group (P＜0.05).

Table 3. Comparison of Medication between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Occasionally Frequently Always Occasionally Frequently Always x2

Before experiment24766240570.026

After 6 months95254241564.622

After 1 year1367351395922.740**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=5.970, x22=21.090**, x23=6.674*;Control group x21=0.021, x22=0.380, x23=0.462)

2.4 Medical expense analysis

Analysis results of Table 4 show no difference between the results of the control group before and after the experiment (P＞0.05), while the medical expenses of the experimental group were significantly reduced in the past year (P＜0.01). This change mainly started after 6 months and developed into a significant one after 1 year (P＜0.01). Since the data acquired through this questionnaire contains some quantitative information. Therefore further quantitative analysis was performed and the results showed that the annual medical expense after the experiment was about 300 Yuan lower than it was before the experiment. The amplitude of the decrease was about 24%. This analysis does not cover the slightly increase medical expense of the control group. Although no significant difference was found between the mean medical expenses of the control group before and after the experiment (P＞0.05), it tended to increase. Causes for such increase included: ① Rising prices and the rising medical cost; ② advancing age and the rising medical cost, which tended to increase with the advancing age of old people. Even if these factors are not taken into consideration, the medical expense of the experimental group also decreased by about 24% after the experiment.

Table 4. Comparison of Medical Expense between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups Before and After Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

450 Yuan 900 Yuan 1600Yuan 450Yuan 900Yuan 1600Yuan x2

Before experiment25063534603.228

After 6 months466451296920.180**

After 1 year2563274257049.760**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=5.874, x22=35.488**, x23=19.774**; Control group x21=3.691, x22=2.253, x23=2.103)

2.5 Vigor analysis

Analysis results in Table 5 show that after the exercise, the vigor of the experimental group was significantly improved. The vigor of the practicers was significantly improved especially during the 6m~1y period of exercise (P＜0.01). No significant difference was found in the vigor of the control group before and after the experiment (P＞0.05). By inter-group comparison, both groups had the same level of vigor before the experiment (P＞0.05), while significant difference was found between both groups in terms of vigor after 6 months of experiment. The experimental group had greater vigor than the control group (P＜0.05). This was still the case after 1 year of experiment. The experimental group had significantly better vigor than the control group (P＜0.05).

Table 5. Comparison of Vigor between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Good Fair Quite poor Poor Good Fair Quite poor Poor x2

Before experiment935462552948172.087

After 6 months1145509526482010.410*

After 1 year1968280521541959.366**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=9.146*, x22=43.523**, x23=22.020**; Control group x21=0.407, x22=1.744, x23=0.910)

2.6 Mental state analysis

Analysis results in Table 6 show that after the exercise, subjects of the experimental group had significantly better mental state than they did before the exercise (P＜0.05), while no significant change in mental state was found with the control group. By inter-group comparison, both groups had the same mental state before the experiment, while after 6 months and after 1 year of experiment, the experimental group had better overall mental state than the control group (P＜0.05).

Table 6. Comparison of Mental State between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Good Fair Quite poor Poor Good Fair Quite poor Poor x2

Before experiment34442017273823111.550

After 6 months4543234124831820.819**

After 1 year52441811843271125.606**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=9.800*, x22=18.095**, x23=2.962; Control group x21=8.591*, x22=2.429, x23=2.224)

2.7 Diet analysis

Analysis results in Table 7 show that after the exercise, subjects of the experimental group had significantly better diets than they did before the exercise. This change started after 6 months of exercise (P＜0.05) and became significant after 1 year of exercise (P＜0.05). And the diets of the control group remained unchanged after the experiment. (Inter-group comparison: both groups had the same diets before the experiment, while after 6 months and after 1 year of experiment, the experimental group had better diets than the control group.

Table 7. Comparison of Diet between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Good Fair Quite poor Poor Good Fair Quite poor Poor x2

Before experiment454913837401842.649

After 6 months544714030491739.043*

After 1 year634912373821325.479**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=8.897*, x22=16.886**, x23=14.001**; Control group x21=1.813, x22=0.425, x23=2.543)

2.8 Defecation analysis

Analysis results in Table 8 show that after the exercise, the defecation of the experimental group tended to change but no significant improvement was found (P＜0.05). No change took place in the defecation of the control group after the experiment. By inter-group comparison, the experimental group and the control group had the same status of defecation before the experiment and 6 months after the experiment (P>0.05). After 1 year of experiment, significant differences were found in defecation between the experimental group and the control group as far as statistical data was concerned (P＜0.01). This indicates that: Qigong has a certain effect on improving the defecation of practicers. And such effect should be the result of long-term practice.

Table 8. Comparison of Defecation between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Normal General Constipation Loose Normal General Constipation Loose x2

Before experiment49301422402615180.436

After 6 months47381614293815173.409

After 1 year642911112839151716.354**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=2.894, x22=6.035, x23=5.098;Control group x21=4.032, x22=4.746, x23=0.031)

2.9 Sleep quality analysis

Analysis results in Table 9 show that after 1 year of exercise, subjects of the experimental group had significantly better sleep than they did before the exercise (P＜0.05), while no significant change in the quality of sleep was found with the control group. Both groups had the similar sleep quality before the experiment, while after 6 months and after 1 year of experiment, the experimental group had better sleep than the control group (P＜0.05).

Table 9. Comparison of Sleep Quality between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Good Fair Quite poor Poor Good Fair Quite poor Poor x2

Before experiment285821819542333.501

After 6 months356414217552619.703*

After 1 year445712223522319.459*

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=6.073, x22=9.619*, x23=1.584;Control group x21=1.034, x22=1.419, x23=1.168)

2.10 Memory analysis

Analysis results in Table 10 show that after the experiment, subjects of the experimental group had significantly better memory. This change started after 6 months of exercise (P＜0.05) and became significant after 1 year of exercise (P＜0.01). And the memory of the control group remained unchanged after the experiment. Both groups had the similar memory before the experiment, while after 6 months and after 1 year of experiment, the experimental group had better memory than the control group. P

Table 10. Comparison of Memory between Surveyed Subjects of Both Groups before and after Experiment

Experimental process Experimental group (115) Control group (99)

Good General Poor Good General Poor x2

Before experiment94759253445.835

After 6 months86839056438.206*

After 1 year1088170554428.529**

(Intra-group comparison: Experimental group x21=7.975*, x22=35.715**, x23=11.429*; Control group x21=2.094, x22=2.037, x23=0.021)

3. Discussion

This study shows that the health-preserving effects of Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing became evident after 6 months of experiment. The vigor, mental state, diet, sleep quality, and memory were significantly improved and both the frequency of medication and cost of medical care were significantly reduced. After 1 year of experiment, all 10 observation items were significantly improved and vigor, mental state, sleep quality, and memory were further improved. Frequency of medication and cost of medical care were further reduced. Analysis of the self-evaluation of health status of the test subjects and other studies of the same topic further show that Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing plays an active role in optimizing the overall functioning state of the life activities of the human body and provides good health-preserving effects. Relevant data and information acquired in this study also indicates that Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing not only promotes the physical and mental health of the old and middle-aged people, but also serves as a partial solution to the current difficulties in medical care.

The human body is a complicated macrosystem. The effects of Health Qigong on the human body are comprehensive and multi-level effects. In order to properly reflect the health-preserving effects of Health Qigong, we started with the daily life of test subjects in the questionnaire survey and chose the indicators capable of reflecting the overall state of the life activities of the human body for the survey and analysis. From the aforementioned results, we can see that Health Qigong plays an active role in optimizing the overall state of he life activities of the human body. This conclusion coincides with the test results of other items.

References

[1] Chen Fuping, Li Qiang. An Inside Look into Sub-heath [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2005:3.

[2] Health Qigong Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China. Health Qigong•Yi Jin Jing [M]. Beijing: People’s Health Publishing House, 2003.