Online Tai Chi Intervention to Promote Smoking Cessation Among Cancer Survivors

March 27, 2026 updated by: Ce Shang, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

A Tai Chi Intervention to Promote Smoking Cessation Among Cancer Survivors

This clinical trial evaluates an online Tai Chi intervention to promote smoking cessation among cancer survivors. Tai chi is a practice that involves a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. It is a gentle form of exercise that can be done while sitting or standing and does not involve any medications or medical procedures. Tai chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation. The use of Tai Chi may be beneficial for cancer patients who want to quit smoking.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Aim 1: The primary objective of this study is to pilot an online Tai Chi intervention promoting smoking cessation among cancer survivors1.

Aim 2: Examine whether an online Tai Chi intervention reduces cigarette dependence among cancer survivors who are aged 21 and are interested in quitting smoking.

Aim 3: Test whether an online Tai Chi intervention increases quit attempts and cessation abstinence among cancer survivors who are aged 21 or older and are interested in quitting smoking.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Participants participate in an 8-week supervised online WaQi/Tai Chi program. Participants receive standard cessation treatment which includes receiving a document highlighting smoking cessation resources.

ARM II: Participants receive standard cessation treatment which includes receiving a document highlighting smoking cessation resources. Participants also receive an 8-week online Tai Chi self-administered teaching module subscription at the end of the study.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

68

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
        • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Cancer survivor (i.e., have had a cancer diagnosis)
  • Age 21 years and older
  • English speaking/reading
  • Report smoking tobacco in the past 30 days
  • Report at least moderate interest in quitting smoking (>= 3 on a Likert type scale with 5 being very extremely interested)
  • Can participate in Zoom calls for orientation and intervention
  • Have access to a smartphone or tablet
  • Willing to download a free application (app)
  • Can commit to the 8-weeks intervention (WaQi program)
  • Are not currently or have not regularly practiced Tai Chi in the last 6 months
  • Willing to blow into a device (for carbon monoxide measurements)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-cancer survivors
  • Patients under 21 years old
  • Non-English speaking/reading
  • Non-smokers in the past 30 days
  • Report lower than moderate interest in quitting smoking (< 3 on a Likert type scale with 5 being very extremely interested)
  • Cannot to participate Zoom calls for orientation and intervention
  • No access to a smartphone or tablet
  • Not willing to download a free app
  • Cannot commit to the intervention
  • Has practiced Tai Chi regularly in the last 6 months
  • Not willing to blow into a device
  • Eligible, but sampling quotas full

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm I (Tai Chi)
Participants receive access to the online WaQi program to practice Tai Chi supervised over 60 minutes BIW and home-based over 10 minutes five days a week for 8 weeks. Participants also receive a document highlighting NCI resources for quitting smoking including NCI's tollfree Quitline number, state Quitline numbers and other resources, and undergo CO testing on study.
Other: Survey Administration
Ancillary studies
Procedure: Carbon Monoxide Measurement
Undergo CO test
Other Names:
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • iCOquit
Other: Tai Chi
Practice Tai Chi
Behavioral: Smoking Cessation Intervention
Receive smoking cessation resource document
Other Names:
  • Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Interventions
Other: Internet-Based Intervention
Receive access to WaQi/Tai Chi program
Active Comparator: Arm II (Standard cessation)
Participants receive a document highlighting NCI resources for quitting smoking including NCI's tollfree Quitline number, state Quitline numbers and other resources, and undergo CO testing on study. Participants also receive an 8-week online Tai Chi self-administered teaching module subscription at the end of the study.
Other: Survey Administration
Ancillary studies
Procedure: Carbon Monoxide Measurement
Undergo CO test
Other Names:
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • iCOquit
Other: Tai Chi
Practice Tai Chi
Behavioral: Smoking Cessation Intervention
Receive smoking cessation resource document
Other Names:
  • Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Interventions
Other: Internet-Based Intervention
Receive access to WaQi/Tai Chi program

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Smoking cessation
Time Frame: At baseline, 4 weeks after start of intervention, and 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention
Will be assessed by the participants in both groups by carbon monoxide (CO) verification and self-administered online surveys.
At baseline, 4 weeks after start of intervention, and 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention
Quit attempts
Time Frame: Will be assessed by the participants in both groups by CO verification and self-administered online surveys.
Will be assessed by the participants in both groups by CO verification and self-administered online surveys.
Will be assessed by the participants in both groups by CO verification and self-administered online surveys.
Smoking abstinence
Time Frame: At baseline, 4 weeks after start of intervention, and 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention
Will be assessed by the amount of CO in a participant's breath using a portable carbon monoxide monitor, which is synced to the participants' smartphones and will ask participants to complete a brief smoking habit survey.
At baseline, 4 weeks after start of intervention, and 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cigarette Dependence Scale (12 item)
Time Frame: Up to 6 months post-intervention
This outcome will be assessed by the participants completing self-administered online survey that includes 12 questions.
Up to 6 months post-intervention
Secondary measures that may contribute to smoking
Time Frame: At baseline, 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention
Will include measures such as, anxiety and depression, physical activity, and pain. Will be assessed by the participants in both groups by self-administered online surveys.
At baseline, 1 week, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ce Shang, PhD, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 11, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 2, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

July 12, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 27, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • OSU-22271
  • NCI-2023-04163 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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