Carina Gordon
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Dr. Nikhil Parekh, National VA Whole Health Educator, VA Ann Arbor Whole Health Director
Research Mentor School/College/Department: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System,
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 3 (1pm-1:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 7
Presenter: 4
Abstract
Holistic forms of healthcare treatment are becoming increasingly important. Many research studies have been conducted on holistic treatment options for veterans, demonstrating their value and encouraging implementation. The federally funded Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, also the largest healthcare system in the USA, employs “Whole Health”, a holistic system of care, involving a diverse array of modalities, including yoga, acupuncture, meditation, tai chi, massage therapy, and more. This research seeks to evaluate the understanding, awareness, and treatment outcomes of Whole Health by those at VA, including employees, patients, relatives, and volunteers. A quantitative and qualitative Qualtrics survey was given to those at the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System to analyze such by having participants rank themselves in categories like mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, and more. Survey-takers also identified which Whole Health modalities they have participated in. Currently, the research is ongoing. At the time of publication of this abstract, the data has been collected and preliminary analysis is in process. Specific, detailed, and final results will be available at the time of the Symposium presentation. Our team expects that the resulting data from the survey will indicate a strong understanding of the VA Whole Health system and its benefits. We anticipate that those who have utilized the offered VA modalities will report a greater health than those who haven’t. These results will demonstrate the value and relevance of holistic healthcare, specifically when treating veterans. In turn, our results will support the initiative to implement holistic medical treatment in more hospitals/healthcare systems worldwide and contribute to the academic discourse about the benefits of holistic healthcare.
Authors: Nikhil Parekh, Carina Gordon
Research Method: Qualitative Study
