Determinants of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Yoga Use for Health Conditions: A Systematic Review Protocol

While mind-body movement interventions such as qi gong, tai chi, and yoga are recommended in clinical practice guidelines for several common health conditions, implementation of these interventions within healthcare settings is rare. A systematic synthesis of implementation determinants-commonly referred to as barriers and facilitators-is needed to increase adoption or other implementation outcomes such as reach or sustainability within healthcare systems. Thus, the objective of this review is to: (1) identify determinants of qi gong, tai chi, and yoga for health conditions; and (2) evaluate whether determinants differ by intervention type, health condition, implementation setting, or implementation outcome.

In this systematic review, we will include original research articles in English that identify determinants to adoption of qi gong, tai chi, and yoga by adults with health conditions. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO Clinical Trials database from inception. We will code determinants identified in each article using a codebook informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We will report on how determinants relate to intervention type, health condition (e.g., low back pain, fall prevention), implementation settings (e.g., primary care clinic, community organization), or implementation outcome (e.g., adoption, sustainability). Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Findings will inform implementation strategies by identifying context-specific determinants that influence uptake of qi gong, tai chi, and yoga for health conditions. Results will provide practical insights to guide clinicians, researchers, and health systems in integrating mind-body movement interventions within diverse healthcare and community settings.

This review will generate a comprehensive synthesis of implementation determinants to support the use of qi gong, tai chi, and yoga in evidence-based care for health conditions.