Summer Blackmer
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Dr. Nikhil Parekh
Research Mentor School/College/Department: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System / NonUM
Program: UROP
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Authors: Nikhil Parekh, Summer Blackmer, Jaci Fowler
Abstract
Whole Health is a system of care focused on the well-being of veterans using integrative models and models of self care. Our group of researchers is a group of researchers at the University of Michigan trying to identify gaps in understanding regarding Whole Health. We looked at past research on Whole Health through medical databases to understand what existing research has been established and what still needs to be researched. Our research was constructed as a Qualtrics survey to analyze what the larger population understands about Whole Health and its different sections. In the survey, we broke down the areas of the Circle of Health/Whole Health and asked the respondents specific questions in each of the areas. We tested the validity and quality of the survey after sharing it with a small test group, and used their feedback to make the survey more understandable and user friendly. We then sent the survey to a nationwide randomized group, which received 200+ responses, and analyzed the results qualitatively and quantitatively. From these results, our group created different implementations projects in pairs and teams, while working with community members, to spread information regarding areas that we determined as areas of need from the survey results which accomplishes our initial goal. Understanding what people struggle with regarding Whole Health will allow future researchers to create other implementation projects as we have in this study to improve the health of people nationwide. This project can provide a guide for this future research, which we hope will lead the system of Whole Health to be a system of change in healthcare in the future.
