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BACKGROUND: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased in many countries, and this has altered the knowledge, attitudes, and treatment recommendations of health professionals in regard to CAM. METHODS: Considering Mexican health professionals lack of knowledge of CAM, in this report we surveyed 100 biomedical researchers and Ph.D. students and 107 specialized physicians and residents of a medical specialty in Guadalajara, Mexico (Western Mexico) with a questionnaire to address their attitudes, knowledge, use, and recommendation of CAM. RESULTS: We observed that significantly more researchers had ever used CAM than physicians (83% vs. 69.2%, P = .023) and that only 36.4% of physicians had ever recommended CAM. Female researchers tended to have ever used CAM more than male researchers, but CAM use did not differ between genders in the physician group or by age in either group. Homeopathy, herbal medicine, and massage therapy were the most commonly used CAMs in both the groups. Physicians more frequently recommended homeopathy, massage therapy, and yoga to their patients than other forms of CAM, and physicians had the highest perception of safety and had taken the most courses in homeopathy. All CAMs were perceived to have high efficacy (>60%) in both the groups. The attitude questionnaire reported favorable attitudes toward CAM in both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high rate of Mexican health professionals that had ever used CAM, and they had mainly used homeopathy, massage therapy, and herbal medicine. However, the recommendation rate of CAM by Mexican physicians was significantly lower than that in other countries, which is probably due to the lack of CAM training in most Mexican medical schools.
Contemplative practices support transformative learning processes but can be difficult to identify in a higher education environment. Advocates of contemplative approaches to education see this void as a concern. When topics like these are ignored, especially when desired by students, staff, and faculty, the holistic, transformative, and deep learning needs of students are unfulfilled. Attention needs to be brought to the connections between contemplative practices and the pursuit of transformative education. In this qualitative study, 17 higher education professionals were asked how they integrate contemplative practices into their work and personal lives. In analyzing the data, three themes emerged, namely, awareness, integration, and interconnectedness. These themes, with accompanying stories, highlight the value and benefits of incorporating contemplative practices into a higher education setting. Using an inductive approach, suggestions for implementing practices were identified and are offered here.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the beliefs, attitudes and self-use of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines among senior pharmacy students. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacy students in four pharmacy schools located in Andhra Pradesh in South India. This study was conducted from the August to September 2014. The study population included all pharmacy students enrolled in Doctor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Diploma in Pharmacy programs in studied pharmacy schools. The pretested AYUSH survey had 8 questions on AYUSH related beliefs and 8 question on AYUSH related attitudes. The survey also asked participants about AYUSH related knowledge, frequency of use of AYUSH and the reason for using AYUSH. The data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test were employed to study the association between the independent and dependent variables. RESULTS: A total of 428 pharmacy students participated in the survey. 32.2% of the study population was females and 32.5% of the population resided in rural areas. Males were more likely to have positive beliefs about AYUSH when compared to females (odd ratio [OR] = 4.62, confidence interval [CI] = 2.37-8.99, P < 0.001). Similarly, students living in hostels were more positive in their beliefs about AYUSH compared with students living at home (OR = 2.14, CI = 1.12-4.07, P < 0.05). Students living in hostel also had a positive attitude about AYUSH use (OR = 1.74, CI = 1.03-2.93, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students held favorable attitude and beliefs about AYUSH use. This baseline survey provides important information about the pharmacy student's perception about AYUSH. Further research is needed to explore the reasons that shape the pharmacy student's beliefs and attitudes about AYUSH.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of 8-week respiratory functional training program on pain tolerance, sleep, and urinary antioxidant and cortisol levels in 18 patients with fibromyalgia.Methods: Participants underwent a 12-week intervention: 4 weeks as control and 8 weeks of breathing exercises. Pain tolerance assay was done by using an algometer, whereas sleep quality was evaluated by actigraphy and by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Cortisol and antioxidant levels were determined using commercial assay kits.
Results: Increases in the pain tolerance threshold were detected in the occiput point after one month of intervention as well as in the low cervical and second rib points after one and two months. Actigraphy revealed a decrease in sleep latency, whereas sleep questionnaire showed improvements in sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep efficiency. No changes in cortisol and antioxidant levels were detected.
Conclusion: The 8-week breathing exercise intervention reduced pain and improved sleep quality. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVES: Life-threatening diseases such as cancer represent unique traumas-compared with singular, time-limited traumatic events-given their multidimensional, uncertain, and continuing nature. However, few studies have examined the impact of cancer on patients as a persistent stressor. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore patients' ongoing experiences of living with cancer and the changes encountered in this experience over time.METHODS: Written reflections to three open-ended questions collected from 28 patients on their experience of cancer at two time points were analyzed to explore participants' experiences and perspectives over time. Content analysis using a framework approach was employed to code, categorize, and summarize data into a thematic framework.
RESULTS: Data analysis yielded the thematic framework-living with paradox, consisting of four interrelated themes: sources, experiences, resolution of paradox, and challenges with medical culture/treatment. The primary theme concerned moving through a dualistic and complex cancer experience of concurrently negative and positive emotional states across the course of cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: Respondents indicated that cycling through this contradictory trajectory was neither linear, nor singular, nor conclusive in nature, but reiterative across time. Recognition that patients' cancer experience may be paradoxical and tumultuous throughout the cancer trajectory can influence how practitioners provide patients with needed support during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. This also has implications for interventions, treatment, and care plans, and adequately responding to the diversity of patient's psychosocial, physical, existential, and spiritual experience of illness.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of delivering the mobile mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer (mMBSR(BC)) program using an iPad and to evaluate its impact on symptom improvement. METHODS: A single group, pre-posttest design was implemented among female stages 0-III breast cancer survivors (BCS) who completed treatment. Data were collected at baseline and week 6 on measures of psychological and physical symptoms and quality of life. The mMBSR(BC) program is a standardized, stress-reducing intervention that combines sitting and walking meditation, body scan, and yoga and is designed to deliver weekly 2-hour sessions for 6 weeks using an iPad. RESULTS: The mean age of the 15 enrolled BCS was 57 years; one participant was non-Hispanic black, and 14 were non-Hispanic white. Of the 13 who completed the study, there were significant improvements from baseline to 6 weeks post-mMBSR(BC) in psychological and physical symptoms of depression, state anxiety, stress, fear of recurrence, sleep quality, fatigue, and quality of life (P's < .05). Effect sizes for improvements of multiple symptoms ranged from medium to large. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide preliminary support that the mMBSR(BC) program may be feasible and acceptable, showing a clinical impact on decreasing psychological and physical symptoms. This mobile-based program offers a delivery of a standardized MBSR(BC) intervention to BCS that is convenient for their own schedule while decreasing symptom burden in the survivorship phase after treatment for breast cancer.
We investigated the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in a non-clinical student sample. The Chinese FFMQ demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and the test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the five-factor model. Four of these facets (describing, acting with awareness, non-judging and non-reacting) were shown to have incremental validity in the prediction of depression and anxiety. Our findings suggest that the Chinese version of the FFMQ has acceptable psychometric properties and is a valid instrument for the assessment of mindfulness.
Using data for 25,780 species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we present an assessment of the status of the world’s vertebrates. One-fifth of species are classified as Threatened, and we show that this figure is increasing: On average, 52 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians move one category closer to extinction each year. However, this overall pattern conceals the impact of conservation successes, and we show that the rate of deterioration would have been at least one-fifth again as much in the absence of these. Nonetheless, current conservation efforts remain insufficient to offset the main drivers of biodiversity loss in these groups: agricultural expansion, logging, overexploitation, and invasive alien species.Though the threat of extinction is increasing, overall declines would have been worse in the absence of conservation.
Though the threat of extinction is increasing, overall declines would have been worse in the absence of conservation.
PURPOSES: The increase in quality and life expectancy, often leads to many patients asking the glaucoma specialist whether some sports, activities or hobbies would affect their illness. The aim of this article is to establish guidelines for patients, based on the scientific evidence of published papers. METHODS: Review of all published articles on glaucoma and sports or other activities. The papers were classified according to the level of scientific evidence based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification. RESULTS: Aerobic sports are beneficial for the patient. Yoga indoor sports or relaxation techniques should be avoided if Valsalva manoeuvres are performed or the head is placed very low. Also, the patients must avoid sudden changes in height. Intense heat does not seem to lead to progression of glaucoma, but intense cold can affect patients with vascular dysregulation. Activities using the near vision slightly reduce the intraocular pressure. The use of wind instruments may raise intraocular pressure, depending on the technique used. CONCLUSIONS: Certain sports and activities may have an influence on the onset or progression of glaucoma. Glaucoma specialists should have adequate information about the scientific evidence in the publications, in order to properly advise the patients.
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While hot yoga has gained enormous popularity in recent years, owing in part to increased environmental challenge associated with exercise in the heat, it is not clear whether hot yoga is more vigorous than thermo-neutral yoga. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine objective and subjective measures of exercise intensity during constant intensity yoga in a hot and thermo-neutral environment. Using a randomized, crossover design, 14 participants completed 2 identical approximately 20-min yoga sessions in a hot (35.3 +/- 0.8 degrees C; humidity: 20.5% +/- 1.4%) and thermo-neutral (22.1 +/- 0.2 degrees C; humidity: 27.8% +/- 1.6%) environment. Oxygen consumption and heart rate (HR) were recorded as objective measures (percentage of maximal oxygen consumption and percentage of maximal HR (%HRmax)) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded as a subjective measure of exercise intensity. There was no difference in exercise intensity based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga (30.9% +/- 2.3% vs. 30.5% +/- 1.8%, p = 0.68). However, exercise intensity was significantly higher during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga based on %HRmax (67.0% +/- 2.3% vs. 60.8% +/- 1.9%, p = 0.01) and RPE (12 +/- 1 vs. 11 +/- 1, p = 0.04). According to established exercise intensities, hot yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen consumption but moderate-intensity exercise based on %HRmax and RPE while thermo-neutral yoga was classified as light-intensity exercise based on percentage of maximal oxygen uptake, %HRmax, and RPE. Despite the added hemodynamic stress and perception that yoga is more strenuous in a hot environment, we observed similar oxygen consumption during hot versus thermo-neutral yoga, classifying both exercise modalities as light-intensity exercise.
Mindfulness meditation is an ancient and simple form of meditation that has been said to induce several important physical and psychological benefits. The present study was designed with the aim of investigating the psychobiological effects of mindfulness meditation practice in a clinical population. Sixteen patients with depression and anxiety symptoms were submitted to a mindfulness meditation programme for the period of 2 months. Psychological well‐being [5‐item Mental Health (MH‐5)] and several endocrine parameters [adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate (DHEAS), thyroid‐stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and parathyroid hormone (PTH)] were assessed before and after the meditation programme. At post‐test, the MH‐5 score improved, while the levels of DHEAS and ACTH were raised, and those of PTH decreased. Our results suggest that mindfulness meditation can exert a significant psychobiological modulation by enhancing psychological well‐being, as well as by regulating the levels of several hormonal parameters on different axes.
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that stress-reduction programs tailored to the cancer setting help patients cope with the effects of treatment and improve their quality of life. Yoga, an ancient Eastern science, incorporates stress-reduction techniques that include regulated breathing, visual imagery, and meditation as well as various postures. The authors examined the effects of the Tibetan yoga (TY) practices of Tsa lung and Trul khor, which incorporate controlled breathing and visualization, mindfulness techniques, and low-impact postures in patients with lymphoma. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with lymphoma who were undergoing treatment or who had concluded treatment within the past 12 months were assigned to a TY group or to a wait-list control group. Patients in the TY group participated in 7 weekly yoga sessions, and patients in the wait-list control group were free to participate in the TY program after the 3-month follow-up assessment. RESULTS: Eighty nine percent of TY participants completed at least 2-3 three yoga sessions, and 58% completed at least 5 sessions. Patients in the TY group reported significantly lower sleep disturbance scores during follow-up compared with patients in the wait-list control group (5.8 vs. 8.1; P < 0.004). This included better subjective sleep quality (P < 0.02), faster sleep latency (P < 0.01), longer sleep duration (P < 0.03), and less use of sleep medications (P < 0.02). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of intrusion or avoidance, state anxiety, depression, or fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The participation rates suggested that a TY program is feasible for patients with cancer and that such a program significantly improves sleep-related outcomes. However, there were no significant differences between groups for the other outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Research suggests that stress-reduction programs tailored to the cancer setting help patients cope with the effects of treatment and improve their quality of life. Yoga, an ancient Eastern science, incorporates stress-reduction techniques that include regulated breathing, visual imagery, and meditation as well as various postures. The authors examined the effects of the Tibetan yoga (TY) practices of Tsa lung and Trul khor, which incorporate controlled breathing and visualization, mindfulness techniques, and low-impact postures in patients with lymphoma.METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with lymphoma who were undergoing treatment or who had concluded treatment within the past 12 months were assigned to a TY group or to a wait-list control group. Patients in the TY group participated in 7 weekly yoga sessions, and patients in the wait-list control group were free to participate in the TY program after the 3-month follow-up assessment.
RESULTS: Eighty nine percent of TY participants completed at least 2-3 three yoga sessions, and 58% completed at least 5 sessions. Patients in the TY group reported significantly lower sleep disturbance scores during follow-up compared with patients in the wait-list control group (5.8 vs. 8.1; P < 0.004). This included better subjective sleep quality (P < 0.02), faster sleep latency (P < 0.01), longer sleep duration (P < 0.03), and less use of sleep medications (P < 0.02). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of intrusion or avoidance, state anxiety, depression, or fatigue.
CONCLUSIONS: The participation rates suggested that a TY program is feasible for patients with cancer and that such a program significantly improves sleep-related outcomes. However, there were no significant differences between groups for the other outcomes.
<p>Results of a research study concludes that Tibetan yoga stress-reduction programs tailored to the cancer setting help patients cope with the effects of treatment and improve their quality of life. Techniques include regulated breathing, visual imagery, and meditation as well as various postures. The authors examined the effects of the Tibetan yoga practices of Tsalung (rtsa rlung) and Trülkhor ('khrul 'khor), which incorporate controlled breathing and visualization, mindfulness techniques, and low-impact postures in patients with lymphoma. They conclude that Tibetan yoga significantly improves sleep in lymphoma patients. However, there were no other significant effects for the outcomes the study measured. (Steven Weinberger 2004-04-23)</p>
The aim of this book is to show the importance of the development of qualitative studies in the field of quality of life. It is organized in two parts, and has been di-vided into ten chapters.Part I, which comprises four chapters, deals with the theoretical-methodological reflection of qualitative studies; it examines the written production on the subject, the role of qualitative researchers, the role played by culture in qualitative studies and in the researchers’own lives, the follow-up of young researchers in their process of insertion in this field, and the challenge of integrating qualitative and quantitative methods for the study of quality of life, thus overcoming the traditional antagonism between them.Part II contains six chapters that are concrete cases in which researchers have developed qualitative studies on quality of life in different disciplines and themes: Geography, Health, Communities, Youth, Childhood and Yoga in labor life, thus showing the possible new scenarios in the the history of quality of life studies.Some of the chapters are the results of different research projects developed by the authors and/or myself and the other ones are the results of Doctoral Thesis that I directed in Argentina and Colombia. I am very grateful with the colleagues that work with me in this book.Adopting a particular methodology implies a philosophical, theoretical and po-litical decision and, in the case of qualitative methodology, it is an essential ap- proach in understanding people’s experiences of well-being and discovering new issues related to quality of life.
The aim of this book is to show the importance of the development of qualitative studies in the field of quality of life. It is organized in two parts, and has been di-vided into ten chapters.Part I, which comprises four chapters, deals with the theoretical-methodological reflection of qualitative studies; it examines the written production on the subject, the role of qualitative researchers, the role played by culture in qualitative studies and in the researchers’own lives, the follow-up of young researchers in their process of insertion in this field, and the challenge of integrating qualitative and quantitative methods for the study of quality of life, thus overcoming the traditional antagonism between them.Part II contains six chapters that are concrete cases in which researchers have developed qualitative studies on quality of life in different disciplines and themes: Geography, Health, Communities, Youth, Childhood and Yoga in labor life, thus showing the possible new scenarios in the the history of quality of life studies.Some of the chapters are the results of different research projects developed by the authors and/or myself and the other ones are the results of Doctoral Thesis that I directed in Argentina and Colombia. I am very grateful with the colleagues that work with me in this book.Adopting a particular methodology implies a philosophical, theoretical and po-litical decision and, in the case of qualitative methodology, it is an essential ap- proach in understanding people’s experiences of well-being and discovering new issues related to quality of life.
OBJECTIVE:Previous studies have shown that dispositional mindfulness is associated with less psychological symptoms in cancer patients. The present study investigated how dispositional mindfulness is related to psychological symptoms in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients by considering the roles of self-acceptance and perceived stress.
METHODS:
A total of 176 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer were recruited to complete a series of questionnaires including Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Self-acceptance Questionnaire, Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, and General Health Questionnaire.
RESULTS:
Results showed that the proposed model fitted the data very well (χ2 = 7.564, df = 7, P = .364, χ2 /df = 1.094, Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) = 0.986, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.998, Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.995, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.023). Further analyses revealed that, self-acceptance and perceived stress mediated the relation between dispositional mindfulness and psychological symptoms (indirect effect = -0.052, 95% confidence interval = -0.087 ~ -0.024), while self-acceptance also mediated the relation between dispositional mindfulness and perceived stress (indirect effect = -0.154, 95% confidence interval = -0.261 ~ -0.079).
CONCLUSIONS:
Self-acceptance and perceived stress played critical roles in the relation between dispositional mindfulness and psychological symptoms. Limitations, clinical implications, and directions for future research were discussed.