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Volume 14
Issue 12
10.3390/healthcare14121631
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Development of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Program for Depression: A Multi-Method Study

by
Jia Yin Ruan
1,2,
Sha Li
3,
Fen Xu
4,
Fiona Yan Yee Ho
5,
Teris Cheung
1,
Janice Yuen Shan Ho
1,
Wai Chi Chan
6,
Hai Yong Chen
7,
Dennis Cheuk Wing Au
8,
Rebecca Wing Yan Lee
9,
Yim Wah Mak
1 and
Wing Fai Yeung
1,10,*
1
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
2
Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA
3
School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
4
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
5
Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
6
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
7
School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
8
Hong Kong Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine Ltd, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, China
9
Sin-Hua Herbalists’ and Herb Dealers’ Promotion Society Limited, Hong Kong, China
10
Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121631 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 March 2026 / Revised: 3 June 2026 / Accepted: 5 June 2026 / Published: 9 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrative and Complementary Medicine in Healthcare: Practice, Research, and Innovation)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence supports using multicomponent lifestyle medicine programs to alleviate depression, yet few studies detail the program development process. This study aimed to systematically develop a complex lifestyle medicine program for depression based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Methods: A stepwise, multi-method study was conducted. The preparation phase involved understanding the public health issue, identifying resources, and reviewing published evidence. Based on these results, a Delphi survey was performed, followed by an analysis of the context understanding as well as design and refinement of the program. Subsequently, the program was modeled, and a program theory was developed, incorporating explanations and assumptions in a relevant conceptual framework and logic model. Results: A complex lifestyle medicine program and program manual were established. The program involves three major themes, each with six 120 min weekly consecutive sessions: nourishing the heart (two sessions), nourishing according to the time (two sessions), and nourishing the Qi (two sessions). The program covered TCM theory and practice to promote healthy sleep, diet, stress management, and self-administered acupressure and TCM exercise. Teaching materials were created accordingly. Conclusions: This study reports the development of a complex multicomponent TCM lifestyle medicine program to relieve depression thoroughly and transparently, with a specific focus on the Hong Kong context and a particular focus on TCM theory. The developed program will be examined for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in alleviating depression in a mixed-methods clinical study.
Keywords: Delphi technique; depression; lifestyle; program development; traditional Chinese medicine Delphi technique; depression; lifestyle; program development; traditional Chinese medicine

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ruan, J.Y.; Li, S.; Xu, F.; Ho, F.Y.Y.; Cheung, T.; Ho, J.Y.S.; Chan, W.C.; Chen, H.Y.; Au, D.C.W.; Lee, R.W.Y.; et al. Development of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Program for Depression: A Multi-Method Study. Healthcare 2026, 14, 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121631

AMA Style

Ruan JY, Li S, Xu F, Ho FYY, Cheung T, Ho JYS, Chan WC, Chen HY, Au DCW, Lee RWY, et al. Development of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Program for Depression: A Multi-Method Study. Healthcare. 2026; 14(12):1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121631

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruan, Jia Yin, Sha Li, Fen Xu, Fiona Yan Yee Ho, Teris Cheung, Janice Yuen Shan Ho, Wai Chi Chan, Hai Yong Chen, Dennis Cheuk Wing Au, Rebecca Wing Yan Lee, and et al. 2026. "Development of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Program for Depression: A Multi-Method Study" Healthcare 14, no. 12: 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121631

APA Style

Ruan, J. Y., Li, S., Xu, F., Ho, F. Y. Y., Cheung, T., Ho, J. Y. S., Chan, W. C., Chen, H. Y., Au, D. C. W., Lee, R. W. Y., Mak, Y. W., & Yeung, W. F. (2026). Development of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Program for Depression: A Multi-Method Study. Healthcare, 14(12), 1631. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121631

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