Jacqueline Kogen
Research Mentor: Dr. Nikhil Parekh
Mentor Department: Wayne State University, NonUM
Author(s): Nikhil Parekh, Jacqueline Kogen
Session: Session 5 (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 15
Abstract
Integrative medicine is a type of healthcare that focuses on the whole person rather than just treating symptoms. It combines traditional medical care with practices such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. The goal of this project was to better understand how people in the community view integrative medicine and how age relates to opinions about who should be responsible for paying for integrative health programs. A group of University of Michigan student researchers worked together to design and distribute a 48-question Qualtrics survey to explore community knowledge, experiences, and attitudes toward integrative medicine. My specific focus within Part A, the community-based portion of this project, examined two survey questions: one asking participants about their age group and another asking who they believed should cover most of the cost of integrative health programs. Data were cleaned and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. The results showed a significant relationship between age and opinions about funding integrative health programs (?² = 11.64, p = 0.020). Older participants were more likely to support shared responsibility among individuals, insurance companies, and the government, while younger participants more often felt that the government should cover most of the cost. In Part B, a separate and independent project, I am developing an individual Qualtrics survey focused on the relationship between confidence and performance in academic and professional settings. This survey explores whether dressing up, wearing makeup, or intentionally presenting oneself influences confidence and perceived performance on exams, interviews, and other high-pressure situations. Alongside this independent work, I am also collaborating with two other student researchers on a related community-based study within the same research team. Together, these projects highlight how both age and personal confidence shape perspectives on healthcare responsibility and performance. Understanding these patterns can help guide future research and support student-led and community-based integrative health programs that emphasize prevention, access, and overall well-being.
