Client experiences of virtual energy healing.

CONTEXT: During the COVID-19 pandemic medical and holistic health practitioners turned to utilizing virtual healthcare. As energy healing practitioners and educators who shifted to an online format, it seemed important to document descriptions of client experiences of virtual energy healing. OBJECTIVE: To describe client experiences of virtual energy healing sessions. DESIGN: Descriptive pre-post intervention design. SETTING AND INTERVENTIONS: Two experienced and eclectic energy healing practitioners developed a protocol and conducted energy healing sessions via Zoom. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) Consociates, people of diverse life-styles and spiritual traditions who are committed to living the mission of the CSJs in the St. Paul Province. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-post 10-point Likert scale rating of relaxation, well-being, and pain. Pre-post primarily qualitative questionnaires. RESULTS: Results indicated significant pre-post differences: pre-session relaxation (M=5.036, SD = 2.9) and post-session relaxation (M=7.86, SD = 6.4): t(13)=2.16, p=.0017*; pre-session well-being (M=5.86, SD = 4.29); post-session well-being (M=8, SD = 2.31), t(13), p=.0001*; pre-session pain (M=4.0, SD = 6.15) and post-session pain (M=2.25, SD = 3.41), t(13)=2.16, p=.004*. Thematic analysis revealed six themes related to client experiences of virtual energy healing: 1) embodied sensations, 2) relaxation, 3) release - a letting go of tasks/anxieties/worries, 4) sense of peace/joy/calm, 5) connection to themselves, others, and something larger, and 6) surprise that virtual energy healing works. LIMITATIONS: This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample, therefore, there was not a control group, a large sample size, and the sample might be more prone to report better results than the general population because of their spiritual perspectives. Results were not generalizable. IMPLICATIONS: Clients reported positive descriptions of virtual energy healing and say they would do it again. However more research is needed to understand the variables that influenced the results and the underlying mechanisms of action.

Knowledge and clinical dialogues about complementary health approaches among nurse practitioners specialized in geriatrics.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, people over the age of 65 years will account for 20% of the population by 2030, and these elders are more likely to have chronic comorbid complex health problems. Sixty-three percent use complementary health approaches (CHAs) but less than half disclose their use to their health care providers. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are the fastest growing population of primary care health providers. PURPOSE: This study identifies to what degree NPs with specialized training in geriatrics understand CHAs, use them themselves, encourage their patients to access them, and engage in CHA clinical dialogue. METHODS: Cross-sectional online survey collecting quantitative and narrative data; US NPs with specialized training in geriatrics (n = 170, mean age 52 years, SD: 9.0, range: 29-73). RESULTS: Although NPs are knowledgeable about some CHA and believe they are beneficial for older adults to use, they want more education to help understand the effects of a variety of CHA, be more aware of possible treatment interactions, and to integrate CHA into the current health care system. Patient factors (impaired cognitive function, acute health problems, and not open to CHA), provider factors (inadequate CHA knowledge, limited referral paths and resources), and system factors (limited accessibility and availability of CHA in in-patient setting, CHA not covered by insurance, and limited clinical time) disrupt NPs from assessing and discussing CHA with their patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: There is a need to develop and implement NP practice guidelines for CHA clinical management for older adults and provide educational opportunities to incorporate CHA into clinical practice.

Nurse practitioner knowledge, use, and referral of complementary/alternative therapies.

PURPOSE: The study aims are to (a) describe nurse practitioners' (NPs') belief in effectiveness, knowledge, referral, and use of complementary/alternative therapies (C/ATs), (b) explore the initiation of C/AT dialogue between NPs and their patients, and (c) examine the relationships between demographic variables and NP C/AT knowledge, beliefs, use, referrals. DATA SOURCES: A mixed-method cross-sectional online survey of licensed NPs (N = 2874) from a Midwestern state was analyzed using descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and content analysis. CONCLUSIONS: NPs (n = 410) report the most knowledge about prayer (40%) and mind-body practices (32%). Many NPs (84%) report using vitamins for personal use and 85% refer their patients for massage/bodywork. Most (95%) believe NPs should have knowledge of the most common C/AT and 81% believe C/AT have a legitimate use in allopathic medicine. NPs' knowledge, belief, use, and referral of C/AT are significantly correlated. NPs initiate C/AT dialogue with their patients 54% of the time. Factors that impact the NP and patient C/AT dialogue include patient/family openness, nature of the health problem, NP C/AT knowledge, time, and accessibility. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Centralized C/AT sources could help expedite C/AT referrals. Implementing workplace C/AT clinics could help build knowledge, referral, personal use, and acceptance of C/AT.

Complementary/alternative therapies use in older women with arthritis: Information sources and factors influencing dialog with health care providers.

The purpose of this study was to describe the information sources older women with arthritis use to make decisions about complementary/alternative therapies (C/AT), and factors that influence C/AT dialog with their HCP. The purposive sample included 50 community-dwelling older women (mean age = 77.8, SD = 7.6, range 66-101) who were using C/AT for arthritis management. Eight focus groups were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using both manual and computer-based (Atlas.ti) methods. Participants used a variety of C/AT for arthritis management. Most did not seek C/AT information from their health care provider (HCP) but primarily relied on family and friends as resources. Common themes that influenced C/AT dialog included collaborative patient relationship with HCP, HCP unsupportive attitudes toward C/AT and lack of C/AT knowledge, and time-limited clinic visits. Clinical implications include fostering shared decision making clinical relationships, increasing HCP knowledge about C/AT, initiating C/AT dialog and offering credible C/AT information sources.

Complementary/alternative medicine use for arthritis by older women of urban-rural settings.

PURPOSE: This study described the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) for arthritis management among community-dwelling older women in urban, suburban, and rural areas. DATA SOURCES: A descriptive qualitative approach using focus group method was employed. A purposive sample of 50 women ages 66-101 who managed arthritis with CAM participated in eight semistructured focus groups: rural (n=22), suburban (n=17), and urban areas (n=11). Data were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analytic process and computer software were used for data analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A wide variety of self-help CAM were reported. Supplements were the most commonly used CAM across all locations; rural participants reported the greatest variety of CAM use. Physical symptoms, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, perceived safety and convenience of CAM, and a desire for personal control over one's health motivated CAM use. Most participants did not fully disclose their CAM use to their primary healthcare provider (HCP). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Results suggest a strong need for primary HCP to purposely dialogue with their clients on CAM use when designing, organizing, and delivering arthritis care. Information on safe CAM use and greater options for effective arthritis management with CAM are needed. The value of group-based model for treating arthritis deserves further exploration.