Madeline Lezotte
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 16
Abstract
Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medical practices with evidence-based complementary therapies that support overall wellbeing and disease prevention. As holistic approaches become more integrated into modern healthcare, understanding how individuals learn about and engage with integrative medicine is increasingly important for advancing patient-centered care. This study examined patterns of engagement with integrative health practices and investigated whether the sources individuals use to obtain information about integrative medicine are associated with how frequently they intentionally use music as a strategy to support wellbeing. To explore these questions, a 48-question survey was developed and administered through Qualtrics. The survey assessed engagement with several integrative health practices, including meditation, yoga, mindfulness, music use, and common sources of health information. Prior to distribution, the survey was pilot tested with a small group of participants and revised based on feedback to improve clarity and usability. The finalized survey was then distributed to participants to obtain a diverse sample of respondents. In total, data were collected from 148 participants (N = 148). After cleaning the dataset to remove incomplete responses, statistical analyses were conducted using RStudio. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a chi-square test of independence were used to evaluate whether the frequency of intentional music use varied based on respondents’ primary sources of integrative medicine information. Results from the ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in intentional music use across information source groups, F(6, 68) = 0.30, p = .93. Similarly, the chi-square test of independence showed no statistically significant association between information source and categorical frequency of music use, ?²(24) = 17.65, p = .82. These findings suggest that individuals’ sources of integrative medicine information do not meaningfully influence how often they intentionally use music to support wellbeing. Overall, the results indicate that intentional music use is relatively consistent across different information sources. Although participants reported diverse pathways for learning about integrative medicine, these sources were not associated with differences in engagement frequency. This highlights the broad appeal of music-based wellbeing practices and suggests that integrative health behaviors may be influenced by factors beyond information source alone. Future research will include additional community engagement projects and a secondary survey to further explore these relationships.
