Global advances in integrative medicine and health最新文献

The reported benefits of nature contact on human health and well-being have prompted the rise of nature prescriptions with health professionals recommending nature exposure. Due to the success of nature prescriptions and calls for greater reciprocity between people and the planet, this essay proposes to leverage health behavior promotion strategies to integrate planetary health prescriptions (Earth RX) into existing nature prescription frameworks with a vision to counsel patients on both the health and well-being benefits of nature contact as well as earth-sustaining behaviors, all of which fosters a compassionate interdependence between personal and planetary well-being. The essay emphasizes the importance of co-designed stakeholder collaboration for program success, addressing factors such as trust, perceived benefits, and accessibility. Finally, this essay concludes that integrating Earth RX in nature prescription programs strategically aligns with the principles of integrative health, acknowledging the reciprocal relationship between human health and well-being and planetary well-being.

Background: In North America, there is a notable underutilization of complementary and integrative health approaches (CIH) among non-White and marginalized communities.

Objectives: This study sought to understand how CIH educational instutitions are proactively working to redress this disparity in access and utilization among these communities.

Methods: We conducted interviews with 26 key informants, including presidents, clinicians, and research deans across 13 CIH educational institutions across the US and Canada. Thematic analysis included deductive codes based on the interview guide during interview scripts review.

Results: Six themes were identified: (1) CIH institutions often had a long and varied history of community engaged care through partnerships to increase access and utilization; (2) CIH institutions' long-standing community outreach had been intentionally designed; (3) CIH institutions provided an array of services to a wide range of demographics and communities; (4) addressing healthcare access and utilization through community partnerships had a strong positive impact; (5) funding, staffing and COVID-19 were significant challenges that impeded efforts to increase CIH access through community engaged work; (6) identified gaps in community partnerships and services to increase access and utilization were recognized.

Conclusion: These findings underscore significant efforts made to enhance healthcare access and utilization among marginalized, underserved, and racial and ethnic communities. However, barriers such as funding constraints, resource allocation, and the need for proper measurement and accountability hinder proactive initiatives aimed at redressing disparities in CIH utilization within these communities.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is common in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and there is growing awareness that chronic pain has an impact on the progression of dementia. Yoga has shown promise in treating chronic pain. However, attending in-person yoga can be difficult for AD patients.

Objective: To assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of an online yoga (teleyoga) protocol suitable for AD patients with chronic pain, and their caregivers.

Methods: Patients with comorbid mild AD and chronic musculoskeletal pain (n = 15, 57-95 y/o; 73% Female) and their caregivers (n = 15, 50-75 y/o; 67% Female) received 12-week of teleyoga individually (n = 5 dyads) or in groups (n = 10 dyads). Study measures included standard feasibility metrics, and secondary outcomes included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and cognitive function using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Caregivers also completed measures of caregiver burden, and quality of life (Short Form Health Survey-36, SF-36).

Results: Feasibility measures showed adequate treatment adherence (85.1% in patients and 86.3% in caregivers), acceptability (mean acceptability rating = 3.0 for patients and 3.3 for caregivers, indicating positive approval), recruitment rate (n = 16 dyads within 1-year), retention rate (87%), missing data rate (.03%), and fidelity of treatment delivery (87%). Preliminary efficacy findings in the AD group showed significant reductions in pain severity (BPI-SF mean Δ = -.93, P = .045) and depression (BDI-II; mean Δ = -9.85, P = .005). %). Preliminary efficacy findings in the caregiver group showed significant reductions in depression (BDI-II mean Δ = -6.88, P = .036) and fatigue (SF-36 mean Δ = 9.81, P = .021).

Conclusion: Results show that teleyoga is a feasible treatment for patients with comorbid mild AD and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Results also provide preliminary evidence of health benefits of teleyoga for both AD patients and their caregivers.

Mindful Movement approaches have been a growing part of the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Innovations in tele-health technology had been an important initiative before the public health emergency to meet the needs of rural veterans as well as challenges in getting to a physical location for care. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition to tele-delivery of many practices including mindful movement. This paper aims to share lessons learned from virtual delivery of mindful movement as part of clinical and well-being programs in VA. Benefits of virtual care discussed include the convenience and decreased travel burden; accessibility for adaptive movement options; translation to home practice; and shifting the emphasis to interoceptive skills-building supportive of self-efficacy for exploring and identifying safe movement. Important challenges are also identified such as technology related barriers; teachers trained to meet the need of offering adaptations for a heterogenous population and supporting interoceptive skill-building; and supporting both physical and psychological safety. Examples are provided of medical groups incorporating virtual mindful movement within programs for diabetes and pain care to further explore the potential benefit of these practices being integrated within the care itself, rather than as a separate practice. It is hoped that the lessons learned will provide support for Veterans and staff, and the wider health care community, in what they need to participate in virtual care that is high quality, accessible, and meets the needs for greater health and well-being.

Background: The association between home mindfulness practice quantity in standard length mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and chronic pain outcomes is variable. Few studies focus on abbreviated MBIs (< 8 weeks) and distinguish between formal guided practices and informal practices in daily life.

Objectives: To characterize home mindfulness practice and explore associations between home practice quantity and pre-to-post-outcome changes after an MBI for chronic pain.

Methods: In this single-arm study, 21 adults with chronic pain (mean age = 54 years, 81% White, mean pain duration = 7 years) completed an MBI with four weekly group sessions. Pre and post self-report measures of pain intensity/interference, physical function, depression, anxiety, positive affect, sleep disturbance (all PROMIS measures), and pain acceptance, catastrophizing, perceived stress and mindfulness were completed, along with daily surveys of formal (mindfulness of breath, body scan) and informal (breathing space, mindfulness of daily activities) practice. Bivariate correlations and multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between days and minutes of practice and change in outcomes.

Results: On average, formal practice was completed on 4.3 days per week and 13.5 minutes per day. Informal practice was completed on 3.5 days per week and 8.6 minutes per day. Formal practice was not significantly correlated with outcomes (Spearman's ρ = |.01|-|.32|), whereas informal practice was correlated with multiple outcomes (ρ = |.04|-|.66|). Number of days practiced informally was associated with improved pain interference, physical function, sleep disturbance, and catastrophizing (p's ≤ .05). Number of minutes practiced informally was associated with improved pain interference, anxiety, positive affect, and catastrophizing (p's ≤ .05).

Conclusion: Informal home practice quantity, but not formal practice quantity, is associated with improved outcomes during an abbreviated MBI for chronic pain. For these MBIs, it is important to evaluate the distinct roles of formal and informal practice.

Clinicaltrialsgov registration: NCT03495856.

Background: This Scoping review (ScR) builds upon the 2017 review conducted by Hansen et al which contributed to evidence base shinrin-yoku (SY), also known as forest bathing (FB), has many positive health effects and is becoming a prescribed dose (specific time spent in nature) by health care providers. Practice and research regarding SY, has been historically based in Asian countries with a recent increase in Europe. The need and call for more research worldwide continues to further the evidence of SY as a health promotion modality. Through this ScR the authors identified programmatic components, health information monitored and screened, time spent in nature, geographical regions, trends, and themes in SY research worldwide.

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines we searched across 7 electronic databases for SY or FB research articles from 2017 through 2022. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Embase, JSTOR were included due to the interdisciplinary nature of SY or FB research. Each database provided unique strengths ensuring a capture of a wide range of articles. The resulting articles were screened and extracted through Covidence.

Results: Database searches returned 241 results, with 110 references removed during the deduplication process, 131 were initially screened in the title and abstract review stage. Resulting in 82 unique results deemed relevant and screened in full text. During the final stage of the review, 63 articles met all inclusion criteria and were extracted for data.

Conclusions: The practice of SY has physiological (PHYS) and psychological (PSYCH) benefits across age groups. Research findings indicate either the natural or the virtual environment (VW) has significant health benefits. Continued research is encouraged globally for short- and long-term health outcomes for all individuals. The connection with nature benefits the mind, body and soul and is supported by Henry David Thoreau's philosophy: "Our livesneed the relief of where the pine flourishes and the jay still scream."

Rising greenhouse gas levels heat the earth's surface and alter climate patterns, posing unprecedented threats to planetary ecology and human health. At the same time, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have reached epidemic proportions across the globe, caused in part by decreases in physical activity and by over-consumption of carbon-intensive foods. Thus, interventions that support active transportation (walking or cycling rather than driving) and healthier food choices (eating plant-based rather than meat-based diets) would yield health and sustainability "co-benefits." Emerging research suggests that mindfulness-based practices might be effective means toward these ends. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we have developed a mindfulness-based group program, Mindful Eco-Wellness: Steps Toward Healthier Living. Loosely based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, our curriculum teaches mindfulness practices in tandem with sustainability principles, following weekly themes of Air, Water, Food, Energy, Transportation, Consumption, Nature Experience, and Ethics. For example, the "Air" class offers participants practice in guided breath meditations while they learn about the benefits of clean air. The theme of "Food" is presented through mindful eating, accompanied by educational videos highlighting the consequences of food production and consumption. "Transportation" includes walking/movement meditations and highlights the health benefits of physical activity and detriments of fossil-fueled transportation. Pedagogical lessons on energy, ecological sustainability, and the ethics of planetary health are intertwined with mindful nature experience and metta (loving-kindness) meditation. Curricular materials, including teaching videos, are freely available online. Pilot testing in community settings (n = 30) and in group medical visits (n = 34) has demonstrated feasibility; pilot data suggests potential effectiveness. Rigorous evaluation and testing are needed.

Background: A multidisciplinary team of health scientists and educators at an academic medical center came together to consider the various factors that impact well-being among self-identified women working in healthcare and conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify the existing body of knowledge.

Objectives: To examine how well-being is defined, what instruments are used to measure it, and correlation between professional and personal gender-specific factors that impact the well-being of women in healthcare occupations.

Methods: A total of 71 studies published in 26 countries between 1979-2022 were extracted from PubMed. Studies enrolled adult women (18-74 y.o.) healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, clinical social workers, and mental health providers. Well-being related phenomena such as quality of life (QOL), stress, burnout, resiliency, and wellness were investigated. In this review, women are broadly defined to include any individual who primarily identifies as a woman regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

Results: The results of our analysis were consistent across the scope of the literature and indicated that women in healthcare occupations endure a significantly higher level of stress and burnout compared to their male counterparts. The following gender-specific factors were identified as having direct correlation to well-being: job satisfaction, psychological health, and work-life integration.

Conclusions: The findings from this review indicate a need for evidence-based integrative interventions across healthcare enterprises to combat stress and burnout and strengthen the resiliency and well-being of women in healthcare. Using information from this review, our team will launch a comprehensive well-being assessment and a series of interventions to support resiliency and well-being at our academic medical center.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1177/27536130231207807.].