Table 3

Individuals with clinically meaningful improvements

Variable

Usual care

Combined qigong

P-value*

A. NRS-PI¹

2 months

4/45 (8.9%)

36/76 (47.4%)

P < 0.0001

4 months

7/44 (15.9%)

37/73 (50.7%)

P = 0.0002

6 months

8/44 (18.2%)

28/73 (38.4%)

P = 0.02

B. FIQ²

2 months

9/45 (20.0%)

53/75 (70.7%)

P < 0.0001

4 months

13/44 (29.5%)

41/73 (56.2%)

P = 0.005

6 months

15/44 (34.1%)

41/73 (56.2%)

P = 0.02

C. PSQI³

2 months

11/45 (24.4%)

39/76 (51.3%)

P = 0.004

4 months

10/44 (22.7%)

35/73 (47.9%)

P = 0.007

6 months

11/44 (25.0%)

36/73 (49.3%)

P = 0.01

D. SF-36 physical⁴

2 months

4/45 (8.9%)

27/76 (35.5%)

P = 0.001

4 months

5/44 (11.4%)

24/73 (32.9%)

P = 0.009

6 months

6/44 (13.6%)

24/73 (32.9%)

P = 0.02

E. SF-36 mental⁴

2 months

5/45 (11.1%)

29/76 (38.2%)

P = 0.001

4 months

6/44 (13.6%)

22/73 (30.1%)

P = 0.05

6 months

12/44 (27.3%)

26/73 (35.6%)

P = 0.35

* P-values calculated by using the chi-square test

¹ Reduction of ≥ 2 points (30%) from baseline [21]

² Reduction of ≥ 8.8 points or 14% from baseline [25]

³ Reduction of ≥ 3 PSQI points considered a treatment response [26]

⁴ Increase of 6.5 points (SF-physical) and 7.9 points (SF-mental) [12]

Lynch et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R178   doi:10.1186/ar3931