Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese art that has been practiced for centuries. This mind-body exercise is a standard of medical care in many Asian countries. The Western world lags behind in the study of alternative medical treatments. This pilot study utilized Tai Chi to relieve anxiety in a population diagnosed with moderate-severe anxiety. This diagnosis was made by clinicians utilizing the well-respected Hamilton-Anxiety psychiatric rating scale. This non-pharmacologic method for reduction of anxiety was chosen because medications presently utilized for anxiety often cause untoward side effects. Subjects were recruited throughout the community. Patients completed a health questionnaire and were screened by a psychiatrist before and after participating in a 10-week program of Tai Chi classes lasting one hour twice weekly. The results of this study showed marked improvement in anxiety. The median beginning score for all participants on the Ham-A scale was 23 points. The median ending score after Tai Chi instruction was 12 points. The median overall difference in scores was 11 points. This pilot study demonstrated phenomenal reductions in the symptoms of anxiety. Patients also reported feeling more relaxed and peaceful. It is apparent that Tai Chi may be a clinically effective tool for reducing anxiety.

Objectives. To implement and assess a first-year pharmacy student group research project that provided practical hands-on application and reinforced the curricula of concurrent didactic courses. Design. Groups of 6 to 7 students chose a public health topic based on the Healthy People 2010 Priority Areas and created a survey instrument. Faculty facilitated mock institutional review board (IRB) review sessions which provided teams with ongoing feedback and refinement recommendations before each team administered their survey instrument to a predefined population. Data analysis, formal written reports, and oral presentations were presented to peers and project faculty members. Assessment. Teams complied with the requirements of the mock IRB, effectively applied basic research principles learned in class, collected survey data, performed inferential statistical analyses on the data, , and presented their project findings. Two-hundred six of 210 students (98%) reported feeling satisfied with both the results of their project and the accomplishments of their team.Conclusions. Teams applied a varied skill set including primary literature evaluation, basic research principles, statistics, public speaking, and peer collaboration in conducting a public health research project. First-year pharmacy students may benefit from participation in a collaborative research project that provides hands-on application of material being taught in didactic courses.

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