Ashley Silverberg
Pronouns: She/Her
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: Ashley Silverberg, Nikhil Parekh, Mia Dickson
Abstract
Our research project is called Whole Health Educational Resource Development and Evaluation for Veterans and VA Staff. The Whole Health System is a system of holistic care that provides care for veterans and staff in the VA Healthcare System. There are eight areas of care, including yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, mediation, energy medicine, and massage therapy, that are part of the medical benefits package for veterans. There have been increasing concerns relating to the mental and physical health of veterans, family of veterans, volunteers, staff in the VA, other healthcare workers, and community members. Therefore, a survey containing questions regarding the Circle of Whole Health was conducted in order to better understand the awareness and utilization of elements of the Whole Health System. The survey was distributed to veterans, family of veterans, volunteers, staff in the VA, other healthcare workers, and community members with an interest in holistic healthcare, including college students. The questions were open-ended, multiple choice, multiple select, and scale-based. Survey responses were analyzed in terms of statistics and tests of relationships, including the use of chi-square tests. The results of our study can be used to help veterans, their families, healthcare workers, and community members better understand Whole Health modalities and how to incorporate them into their lives to improve their physical and mental health. This will support the Whole Health System as a whole because it will attract awareness to Whole Health modalities, ultimately bringing more support to the Whole Health System. In addition, a student organization, Project Nutrition, was established with the purpose of increasing awareness of healthy eating.
