Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, in improving sleep quality among patients with schizophrenia. Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent in this population and has a substantial impact on daily functioning and quality of life. The study sought to provide evidence for a safe, non-pharmacological nursing intervention applicable in psychiatric settings.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted in the chronic rehabilitation wards of a psychiatric teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Seventy-four inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were purposively sampled and divided into an experimental group (n = 37) and a control group (n = 37). The experimental group received Shangshou Daoyin Qigong training for eight weeks, three sessions per week, 20–30 minutes per session, led by a certified instructor. The control group continued routine ward activities. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) and a structured sleep observation record were used to measure subjective and objective sleep quality before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests.
Results: After the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction. Improvements in CPSQI total scores were significantly greater than those in the control group (p < .05). Objective indicators also showed that participants in the experimental group had longer total sleep duration, fewer nighttime awakenings, and more stable wake-up times compared with the control group. Although some discrepancies existed between subjective and objective indices, the overall trend supported the positive impact of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong on sleep quality.
Conclusion: Shangshou Daoyin Qigong is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that can significantly improve sleep quality in patients with schizophrenia. It can serve as a feasible adjunctive therapy in psychiatric inpatient and community rehabilitation settings. Future research is recommended to explore its long-term effects and applicability in diverse mental health populations.
Notes
References:
Chan, A. W., Yu, D. S., Choi, K. C., Lee, D. T., Sit, J. W., & Chan, H. Y. (2016). Tai chi qigong as a means to improve night-time sleep quality among older adults with cognitive impairment: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 11, 1277.
Chen, X., Cui, J., Li, R., Norton, R., Park, J., Kong, J., & Yeung, A. (2019). Dao Yin (aka Qigong): origin, development, potential mechanisms, and clinical applications. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019.
Cheung, D. S. T., Takemura, N., Smith, R., Yeung, W. F., Xu, X., Ng, A. Y. M., ... & Lin, C. C. (2021). Effect of qigong for sleep disturbance-related symptom clusters in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine, 85, 108-122.
Ching, S. M., Mokshashri, N. R., Kannan, M. M., Lee, K. W., Sallahuddin, N. A., Ng, J. X., ... & Veettil, S. K. (2021). Effects of qigong on systolic and diastolic blood pressure lowering: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 21(1), 1-11.
Ding, M., Zhang, W., Li, K., & Chen, X. (2014). Effectiveness of t'ai chi and qigong on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20(2), 79-86.
Feng, F., Tang, H. T., Ding, G. A., Mischoulon, D., & Yeung, A. (2024). Qigong as a non pharmaceutical therapy for sleep disturbance. Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative, 100073.
Gao, P., Tang, F., Liu, W., He, K., & Mo, Y. (2021). Effect of liuzijue qigong on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 100(41).
Huang, X., Wang, X., Shao, Y., Lin, A., Zhang, Z., Qi, H., ... & Yang, H. (2023). Effects of health qigong exercise on sleep and life quality in patients with drug abuse. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 36(1), 13-19.
Ko, L. H., Hsieh, Y. J., Wang, M. Y., Hou, W. H., & Tsai, P. S. (2022). Effects of health qigong on sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary therapies in medicine, 71, 102876.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Sub-Acute Care, Shangshou Daoyin Qigong, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Sleep Quality, Schizophrenia, People with Schizophrenia
Recommended Citation
Chang, Kuei-Hua and Lin, Jun-Dai, "The Effect of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong on Sleep Quality in Patients with Schizophrenia" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 16.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/16
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-21
The Effect of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong on Sleep Quality in Patients with Schizophrenia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, in improving sleep quality among patients with schizophrenia. Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent in this population and has a substantial impact on daily functioning and quality of life. The study sought to provide evidence for a safe, non-pharmacological nursing intervention applicable in psychiatric settings.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted in the chronic rehabilitation wards of a psychiatric teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Seventy-four inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were purposively sampled and divided into an experimental group (n = 37) and a control group (n = 37). The experimental group received Shangshou Daoyin Qigong training for eight weeks, three sessions per week, 20–30 minutes per session, led by a certified instructor. The control group continued routine ward activities. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) and a structured sleep observation record were used to measure subjective and objective sleep quality before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests.
Results: After the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction. Improvements in CPSQI total scores were significantly greater than those in the control group (p < .05). Objective indicators also showed that participants in the experimental group had longer total sleep duration, fewer nighttime awakenings, and more stable wake-up times compared with the control group. Although some discrepancies existed between subjective and objective indices, the overall trend supported the positive impact of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong on sleep quality.
Conclusion: Shangshou Daoyin Qigong is a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that can significantly improve sleep quality in patients with schizophrenia. It can serve as a feasible adjunctive therapy in psychiatric inpatient and community rehabilitation settings. Future research is recommended to explore its long-term effects and applicability in diverse mental health populations.
Description
Focus: Patients
Status: Completed Work/Project
This study evaluated the effects of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong on sleep quality among patients with schizophrenia. Results showed significant improvements in subjective and objective sleep measures in the experimental group compared with the control group. The findings support Shangshou Daoyin Qigong as a safe and effective complementary therapy to improve sleep quality in psychiatric nursing practice.