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Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is becoming a pillar in the rehabilitative efforts for many living with HIV/AIDS. A community-based research program called the Living Well Lab (LWL) was established in 2007, operating out of Friends For Life (FFL), a non-profit wellness center in Vancouver, Canada offering free CAM therapies to people living with HIV/AIDS. Therapies range from naturopathy to yoga. The LWL partnered with academic and community organizations to evaluate CAM use and changes in health and quality of life outcomes of FFL's HIV+ members., Methods: A longitudinal, combined methods approach assessed the health- and quality-of-life-related outcomes and experiences of CAM users. Participants completed outcome packages (5 time points) over 18 months, which focused on changes in physical and emotional states, satisfaction with services and social support. Interviews were conducted at baseline, 9- and 18-month time points. Quantitative analyses were descriptive while content analysis and thematic coding were used in the qualitative analysis., Results: Two hundred and seven members enrolled in the LWL. Quantitative data demonstrated improvement in mental and physical wellbeing, social support and patient satisfaction specifically: SF-12, Arizona Integrative Outcomes Scale and three visual analog scales (stress, pain and energy). Participants felt several factors contributed to these changes such as managing anxiety, accepting their illness, learning to relax, an increased capacity for self-care and social support., Conclusions: CAM use may be associated with changes to physical, social and mental wellbeing. Issues throughout the study provided important lessons for future research.

Background: The Integrative Medicine (I-MED) Index, designed to be a universal instrument to assess the 5 levels of healing (physical, energetic, emotional, subconscious, spiritual) among individuals who use complementary therapies, is based on the hypothesis of healing (HH), which considers healing as a dynamic process towards wholeness generally following the same steps. When we pilot-tested the instrument, it became clear that the way participants experience healing in their lives was not as the HH suggested. This led us to ask how patients experience healing and what outcomes they identify as key to their journey., Methods: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 individuals with previous healing experiences at 2 wellness centers in Vancouver, BC. Qualitative content analysis and thematic coding were used to analyze the data., Analysis and Results: Four themes emerged from participants' stories; they suggested that healing is (1) a personal and subjective experience, (2) a return to wholeness, (3) self-directed and requiring positive intention and (4) experienced in varying degrees. Symptom resolution, goal attainment, changes in social support, mental outlook, and the subtle but significant changes like engaging in life differently were important healing outcomes. Contrary to the assumptions of the HH, healing is an individualized process that does not follow a uniform pattern., Conclusions: A lack of consensus on the key concepts of healing has hindered efforts to evaluate the effects of complementary therapies and outcome. The results from this study provide the basis for an instrument to assess individuals' healing experiences in a more dynamic manner., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Byline: Marja J. Verhoef, PhD (Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, mverhoef@ucalgary.ca); Andrea Mulkins, MSc (Tzu Chi Research Group, Vancouver, BC); Linda E. Carlson, [...]