Colorectal CancerNCT07833358
This Trial Corresponds to the Manuscript Titled: Effects of Tai Chi on Balance and Sleep Quality in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
A study testing Tai Chi Exercise Program in people with Colorectal Cancer, run by Ya-Fen Fan at 2 sites in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy may experience reduced physical fitness, fatigue, emotional distress, sleep problems, and impaired quality of life. This study evaluated whether a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program could improve physical and psychological outcomes in patients with colorectal… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Colorectal Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi Exercise Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesTaiwan
- Study dates
- 30 Dec 2020to 29 Dec 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 20 years or older
- Underwent colorectal cancer surgery for the first time
- Scheduled to receive six months of adjuvant chemotherapy following colorectal cancer surgery
- No other serious medical condition
- No acute functional decline during hospitalization
- Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent after receiving an explanation of the study
- Able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese or Taiwanese
- Clinically stable and receiving regular outpatient follow-up
Who cannot join
- Required radiotherapy or targeted therapy in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery
- Admitted to an intensive care unit because of trauma surgery, heart failure, end-stage disease, or another serious condition
- Valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, uncontrolled chronic disease, or congestive heart failure
- Unable to clearly communicate level of consciousness, symptoms, or feelings
- Severe visual or hearing impairment
- Diagnosed psychiatric disorder
- Medically advised not to exercise
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Taiwan2 sites
Tamsui Mackay Memorial Hospital
New Taipei City, Taiwan, 251020
Mackay Memorial Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan, 104217
About this study
Official title: Effect of Tai Chi Exercise Intervention on Physical and Mental Distress of Patients With Colorectal Cancer During Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy may experience reduced physical fitness, fatigue, emotional distress, sleep problems, and impaired quality of life. This study evaluated whether a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program could improve physical and psychological outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Participants were randomly assigned to either a Tai Chi exercise group or a usual-care control group. Participants in the Tai Chi group were instructed to perform at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week for 24 weeks, while participants in the control group received usual care. Physical fitness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed during the study.
Read the detailed description
This study used a randomized, two-group, repeated-measures design to evaluate the effects of a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Eligible participants were adults aged 20 years or older who had undergone colorectal cancer surgery for the first time and were scheduled to receive six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group or the usual-care control group using a computer-generated random-number procedure.
Participants assigned to the intervention group received usual care and participated in a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program. They were instructed to complete at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. The exercise could be completed in one or multiple sessions according to the participant's physical condition and treatment schedule. Participants received an instructional video and manual, recorded their daily exercise duration, and were contacted weekly by telephone to assess adherence and address difficulties encountered during exercise.
Participants assigned to the control group received usual care during adjuvant chemotherapy and did not receive the structured Tai Chi exercise program.
Study outcomes included upper- and lower-extremity muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life. Assessments were conducted before the first adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment.
A total of 60 participants were enrolled, including 31 participants assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group and 29 assigned to the usual-care control group. Fifty-three participants completed the study assessments.
- Conditions
- Colorectal Cancer
- Being tested
- Tai Chi Exercise Program
- Keywords
- Tai Chi, Adjuvant Chemotherapy, Physical Fitness, Balance, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai Chi Exercise ProgramBehavioural
A 24-week home-based Tai Chi exercise program consisting of slow, low-impact movements, warm-up exercises, muscle-strengthening movements, and cool-down exercises. Participants were instructed to complete at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. The exercise could be completed in one or multiple sessions according to each participant's physical condition and chemotherapy schedule. Participants received an instructional video and manual, recorded their daily exercise duration, and were contacted weekly by telephone to assess adherence and address exercise-related difficulties.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise Group | Experimental | Participants received usual care and completed a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program, with a target of at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. Receives: Behavioral: Tai Chi Exercise Program |
| Usual Care Control Group | No intervention | Participants received usual care during adjuvant chemotherapy and did not receive the structured Tai Chi exercise program. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Fatigue Measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form
Fatigue was assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form. The instrument contains three items assessing fatigue severity and six items assessing interference of fatigue with daily functioning. Each item is rated from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity or interference. Mean fatigue severity and fatigue interference scores were calculated.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in Grip Strength
Upper-extremity muscle strength was assessed using a Camry EH101 electronic handgrip dynamometer. Participants performed the test three times with their dominant hand while standing with their arms naturally positioned at their sides. A rest period of 1 to 2 minutes was provided between measurements. The highest value from the three measurements was recorded in kilograms. Higher values indicate greater grip strength.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength Measured by the 30-Second Chair Stand Test
Lower-extremity muscle strength and endurance were assessed using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test. Participants began seated in a 0.43-meter-high chair with their arms crossed over their chest and were instructed to rise to a full standing position and return to a seated position as many times as possible within 30 seconds. The total number of correctly completed stands was recorded. Higher numbers indicate better lower-extremity muscle strength and endurance.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Depression Severity Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The instrument contains 21 items assessing cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms of depression. Each item is rated from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Anxiety Severity Measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory
Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Chinese version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The instrument contains 21 items assessing subjective anxiety, panic-related symptoms, and somatic symptoms of anxiety. Each item is rated from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 63. Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Sleep Quality Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Sleep quality was assessed using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The instrument contains 19 self-rated items that generate seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each component is scored from 0 to 3, producing a global score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Health-Related Quality of Life Measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30
Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Chinese version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). The 30-item instrument includes five functional scales, three symptom scales, six single-item symptom measures, and a global health status/quality-of-life scale. Scale scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores on the functional and global health status/quality-of-life scales indicate better functioning and quality of life, whereas higher scores on the symptom scales and single-item measures indicate greater symptom burden.
Measured: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Sep 2026
- Study start30 Dec 2020
- Primary completion29 Dec 2022
- Study completion29 Dec 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Colorectal CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to either a 24-week Tai Chi exercise group or a usual-care control group and remained in their assigned group throughout the study.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ya-Fen Fan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hungkuang University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ya-Fen Fan, MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07833358
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20MMHIS382e
- Other IDs
- 20MMHIS382e
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because the informed consent obtained from participants did not include authorization for public or external sharing of individual-level data. Data sharing is also restricted to protect participant privacy and confidentiality in accordance with the approved study protocol and institutional review board requirements.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Tai Chi Exercise Intervention on Physical and Mental Distress of Patients With Colorectal Cancer During Adjuvant Chemotherapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07833358
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20MMHIS382e
- Conditions
- Colorectal Cancer
- Keywords
- Tai Chi, Adjuvant Chemotherapy, Physical Fitness, Balance, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ya-Fen FanUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hungkuang University
- Study start
- 30 Dec 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Dec 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy may experience reduced physical fitness, fatigue, emotional distress, sleep problems, and impaired quality of life. This study evaluated whether a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program could improve physical and psychological outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Participants were randomly assigned to either a Tai Chi exercise group or a usual-care control group. Participants in the Tai Chi group were instructed to perform at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week for 24 weeks, while participants in the control group received usual care. Physical fitness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed during the study.
Detailed description
This study used a randomized, two-group, repeated-measures design to evaluate the effects of a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.
Eligible participants were adults aged 20 years or older who had undergone colorectal cancer surgery for the first time and were scheduled to receive six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group or the usual-care control group using a computer-generated random-number procedure.
Participants assigned to the intervention group received usual care and participated in a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program. They were instructed to complete at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. The exercise could be completed in one or multiple sessions according to the participant's physical condition and treatment schedule. Participants received an instructional video and manual, recorded their daily exercise duration, and were contacted weekly by telephone to assess adherence and address difficulties encountered during exercise.
Participants assigned to the control group received usual care during adjuvant chemotherapy and did not receive the structured Tai Chi exercise program.
Study outcomes included upper- and lower-extremity muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and quality of life. Assessments were conducted before the first adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment.
A total of 60 participants were enrolled, including 31 participants assigned to the Tai Chi exercise group and 29 assigned to the usual-care control group. Fifty-three participants completed the study assessments.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly assigned to either a 24-week Tai Chi exercise group or a usual-care control group and remained in their assigned group throughout the study.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Tai Chi Exercise ProgramParticipants received usual care and completed a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program, with a target of at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. |
| Usual Care Control Group | No intervention | –Participants received usual care during adjuvant chemotherapy and did not receive the structured Tai Chi exercise program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Aged 20 years or older
- Underwent colorectal cancer surgery for the first time
- Scheduled to receive six months of adjuvant chemotherapy following colorectal cancer surgery
- No other serious medical condition
- No acute functional decline during hospitalization
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Required radiotherapy or targeted therapy in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery
- Admitted to an intensive care unit because of trauma surgery, heart failure, end-stage disease, or another serious condition
- Valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, uncontrolled chronic disease, or congestive heart failure
- Unable to clearly communicate level of consciousness, symptoms, or feelings
- Severe visual or hearing impairment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise ProgramA 24-week home-based Tai Chi exercise program consisting of slow, low-impact movements, warm-up exercises, muscle-strengthening movements, and cool-down exercises. Participants were instructed to complete at least 150 minutes of Tai Chi exercise per week. The exercise could be completed in one or multiple sessions according to each participant's physical condition and chemotherapy schedule. Participants received an instructional video and manual, recorded their daily exercise duration, and were contacted weekly by telephone to assess adherence and address exercise-related difficulties. | Behavioural | Tai Chi Exercise Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Fatigue Measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Fatigue was assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form. The instrument contains three items assessing fatigue severity and six items assessing interference of fatigue with daily functioning. Each item is rated from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity or interference. Mean fatigue severity and fatigue interference scores were calculated.
6 secondary outcomes
Change in Grip Strength
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength Measured by the 30-Second Chair Stand Test
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Depression Severity Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Anxiety Severity Measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Sleep Quality Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Change in Health-Related Quality of Life Measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30
Time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because the informed consent obtained from participants did not include authorization for public or external sharing of individual-level data. Data sharing is also restricted to protect participant privacy and confidentiality in accordance with the approved study protocol and institutional review board requirements.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tai Chi Exercise Program in people with Colorectal Cancer, run by Ya-Fen Fan at 2 sites in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Fatigue Measured by the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form (time frame: Baseline before the first chemotherapy treatment, before the seventh chemotherapy treatment, and two weeks after the twelfth chemotherapy treatment, over approximately 24 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Sep 2026.