Yung-Yun Cheng
Research Mentor: Dr. Nikhil Parekh
Mentor Department: Wayne State University, NonUM
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 5 (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 3
Abstract
Integrative medicine is a holistic system of care that combines principles of allopathic medicine or symptom-based medicine, with the use of complementary and lifestyle approaches to treat the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Integrative medicine emphasizes consideration of diverse areas, such as nutrition, mindfulness, spiritual health, and parts of global systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This project aims to bridge the gaps in knowledge and utilization of integrative medicine by investigating factors that influence an individual’s openness toward and perceived effectiveness of it. The team developed a Qualtrics survey, featuring questions on integrative medicine practices like yoga, meditation, and herbal medicine. A test survey was sent out for participant feedback, followed by a final link that was randomly distributed by email, text messages, and flyers. A total of 148 responses were received, and the data were cleaned prior to analysis. Basic results were available in Qualtrics, and statistical analysis from R-Studio was conducted. The analysis via R-Studio has shown that while 71% of participants perceived Traditional Chinese Medicine as effective, the t-test p-value of (p=0.254) and (p=0.797) indicates that there were no statistically significant differences in openness or perceived efficacy between the younger and older age groups. Current results show that significant gaps in the knowledge of integrative medicine were found, with only 68% aware of its practices. Although a majority of participants show an openness to integrative health practices, they lack professional medical guidance and accessible resources. Consequently, clinicians and institutions must provide structured education and develop public health initiatives that enhance the prevention of and therapy for diseases, such as cancer, through integrative medicine. One future direction for this research would incorporate a community-based project website with blog posts to advocate for the awareness of integrative wellness, in order to improve health outcomes across global communities. Additionally, a second survey will be developed to explore how exercise routines impact a person’s emotional state and personal growth.
