Know the facts with the most up-to-date medical information written by Benjamin Goldberg Foundation’s medical advisor, Dr. Sheetal Ajmani.
Social Prescribing in US: A Pilot Program Demonstrates Positive Outcomes for Patients, Providers, and Community Organizations
Culture Rx is a revolutionary social prescribing program in the United States. Adapted from a healthcare model currently being used in many countries around the world to bring community-based services to address the health and well-being needs of individuals, Culture Rx is the first program of its type to launch in the U.S. An article summarizing the results of this pilot program was first published in the January 2023 issue of Frontiers in Public Health.
Exploring Spirituality Well-Being in Pediatric Cancer Patients
There’s no doubt that a diagnosis of pediatric cancer is life-altering to a child and their family. As children and families adjust to a “new normal” of frequent doctor’s appointments, chemotherapy, radiation, IV sticks and blood draws. Despite the rigorous treatment regimens, survival is not guaranteed. This can lead children and their families down a path of existential questions and spiritual distress as they seek ways to cope with the unforeseen.
Spiritual distress in this context is described as a lack of inner peace and connectedness, grief, the inability to find acceptance, lost sense of meaning in life, or hope for the future. In today’s article, we explore 2 studies that delved into the role of spirituality in the care of pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Enhancing Nurse Job Satisfaction and Patient Care Through Arts Programming
Building on last month’s article, where we discussed how stress and burnout are prevalent concerns within the healthcare workforce, particularly among nursing staff, it is paramount that we explore innovative ways to improve job satisfaction among nurses. While in last month’s article, we explored an arts intervention completed in Lithuania with largely positive results, today we will explore a qualitative study, published in Arts and Health in 2015, that sheds light on the transformative effects of arts and music programming within a short-term stay med-surg unit in the United States.
Impact of Arts for Health on Nursing Staff Well-Being
The well-being of nursing staff is a critical factor not only for their personal satisfaction but also for the quality of patient care, staff retention, and overall productivity. Two studies reviewed in this article shed light on the challenges faced by nursing staff and a potential intervention to promote their well-being.
Exploring the Impact of Expressive and Narrative Writing on Parent-Caregivers
The journey of parenting a child facing a life-threatening illness is a profound emotional challenge that extends beyond the initial diagnosis timeframe. Often it is when families are discharged home from the hospital setting that parents are most vulnerable to the emotional toll and coping with the trauma of caring for a child with cancer or other life-threatening illness. Two recent studies, each employing distinct writing interventions, offer valuable insights into the nuanced experiences of parent-caregivers navigating these complexities. In this article, we explore the potential of expressive writing and narrative e-writing on the well-being of parent-caregivers.
Enhancing Quality of Life for Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Multicomponent Intervention Study in India.
A recent study conducted in India, published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention in September 2021, explored the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention on the quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients. The study focused on caregivers of individuals with advanced-stage breast, head, and neck cancer undergoing treatment.
Yoga as Complementary Therapy for Managing Type 2 Diabetes: What Do the Studies Say?
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Its management is essential to reduce longstanding complications including retinopathy and nephropathy. Additionally, we know that poor glycemic control is directly related to increased relative risk of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. In recent years, complementary therapies have gained attention as potential strategies to help manage T2DM. We will explore two review articles, published in 2018 and 2022 respectively, that explore the benefits of yoga practice as an adjunct to conventional management of T2DM.
Play and Art Therapy for Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic condition that is predominantly diagnosed in childhood and requires lifelong insulin therapy. Managing this condition can be challenging – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Recent research has shed light on the positive impact of non-pharmacological therapeutic modalities, such as play and art therapy, on children with T1DM with regards to understanding their diagnosis and compliance with treatment. In this article, we delve into a literature review published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in 2022, which explored these effects. This review considered 11 papers, with four focusing on play therapy and three on art therapy, all of which provided valuable insights into how these therapies can improve the lives of children living with T1DM.
Singing During Pregnancy Enhances Maternal Well-being and Mother-Infant Bonding
In a study published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2021, researchers examined the effects of music and singing during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother-infant bonding. The study involved 172 pregnant women randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group, a passive music listening group, or an active singing group. Data collection included standardized questionnaires assessing perceived closeness to the baby, depression, and anxiety symptoms, conducted at the study's outset at 30 and again at 36 weeks of gestation. Salivary samples were collected before and after the first intervention session to measure cortisol, alpha-amylase, and oxytocin levels.
How Listening to Music Influences Human microRNA Expression: Insights from a Finnish Study
A study conducted in Finland, titled "Music-listening regulates human microRNA expression," published in Epigenetics in 2021, explored the impact of music on microRNA expression in the human body. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that modulate gene expression by binding to specific messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences. They can then either increase (upregulate) or decrease (downregulate) the expression of their target protei
Massage and Reiki for Symptom Relief in Hospital Patients
Massage and Reiki for Symptom Relief in Hospitalized Patients
Massage and reiki are two widely used complementary therapies. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of massage and reiki for symptom relief in patients, primarily within the hospital setting. But, first, let’s take a closer look at what massage therapy and reiki are and the premise behind these practices.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), massage therapy involves manipulating the body's soft tissues to promote wellness, alleviate pain, or help manage specific health conditions. This is not a new practice. In fact, massage therapy has been used for centuries as a modality to ease pain. There are many different forms of massage, including Swedish, sports, Shiatsu, and Tuina.
Community Cultural Engagement Associated with Lower Risk Of Dementia
We know that social factors, such as visiting museums, engaging in community groups, and being married or living with somebody, are protective against cognitive decline and the development of dementia. Studies have also shown that not having these social components in place, such as being isolated or feeling lonely, is associated with lower cognitive function, faster cognitive decline, and higher risk of dementia. But, is there any association between the type of community engagement and dementia, independent of the social components alone?
What is the Role of Arts for Wellbeing in the United States?
What is the Role of Arts for Wellbeing in the United States?
A study published in 2022 based out of the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine Interdisciplinary Research Lab sought to evaluate the role of arts for wellbeing in communities within the United States. This review article looked at 44 publications over a 7-year period that evaluated the impact of community-based art interventions, including music, dance and theater, on measures of overall wellbeing. A total of 5080 research participants were included in this study population, with positive associations of art interventions found across physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social outcomes.
But, before we get into the study details, why is this even important?
Five Types of Mind-Body Therapies for Children
Mind-body therapies are among the top 10 most frequently used complementary modalities of healing by adults and children, according to the 2007-2012 National Health Interview Survey. Among children, 3.7% between the ages of 4- and 17-years use mind-body therapies. In this article, you’ll learn what mind-body therapies are and why they are among the topmost frequently used complementary therapies.
What is mind-body therapy?
Mind-body approaches involve specific techniques to engage the mind in ways that positively affect body awareness and regulation of physiological responses to improve health outcomes.
Prescriptions To Promote Health: The New Wave Of Social Prescribing
Doctors around the world are now giving their patients a new type of prescription. Instead of a drug or medication, they’re prescribing that their patients go to a museum, listen to a concert, or spend time in nature.
Complementary and Integrative Medicine – The What, Why, and How – Part 2
In Part 2, you’ll get an overview of the many complementary and integrative healing modalities currently in practice.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, categorizes complementary therapies into 2 main groups – natural products and mind-body practices. A third category, whole medical systems, will also be discussed here.
Complementary and Integrative Medicine – The What, Why, and How – Part 1
More than 1 out of every 10 children use complementary therapies in addition to conventional allopathic medicine. This number drastically increases in children with chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, migraine headaches, epilepsy, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, where up to 50% of children affected with these conditions have used complementary therapies. The numbers of adults are even higher where 1 in 3 adults use complementary therapies.
These statistics are from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey that looked at complementary therapy use in the preceding year. At the time of writing this article, 13 years after that initial survey, interest in and acceptance of integrative and complementary modalities of healing have only grown.
It’s Not Just For Kids! Art Therapy Is Good For Parents Too
While their parents feeling better and more relaxed is not going to change a child's diagnosis or heal them from their chronic condition, it can certainly improve their quality of life.
Art therapy is a master’s level profession that uses the creative arts to improve a person’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
Parent caregivers of children with chronic health conditions experience high degrees of emotional distress. While care and attention is being given to the children, parent caregivers also need a path to healing and well-being. This small pilot study shows the role art therapy can play in addressing the emotional needs of parent caregivers.