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An Assessment of the Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as an Optimal Healing Environment

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Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine

Abstract

Background: Integrative medicine appears to have come closest to meeting the criteria of an optimal healing environment (OHE). However, to date, we have little insight as to how OHEs can be designed or promoted.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore which aspects of integrative healthcare delivery at the Tzu Chi Institute facilitated and which were barriers to achieving an OHE.

Design: The study is a descriptive analysis of a wide range of data collected between October 1998 and January 2003. Data were collected on demographics, health history, clinic utilisation, goal attainment and six standardised outcomes measures that include the Short Form Health Status Survey, General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale and MOS (Medical Outcomes Study) Social Support Survey.

Results: Several variables were identified as having the potential to influence individuals’ experiences in an integrative care programme. These included participation in the mind/body programme, number of clinic visits, degree of social support, sense of control over health and specific disease conditions.

Discussion: This study has generated important findings that will be useful in the further development of OHEs.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided through grants from both the Samueli Institute for Information Biology and the Tzu Chi Foundation. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the contents of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tzu Chi Research Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Andrea Mulkins & Joanna Eng

  2. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada

    Marja Verhoef

Authors
  1. Andrea Mulkins
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  2. Marja Verhoef
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  3. Joanna Eng
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Correspondence to Marja Verhoef.

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Mulkins, A., Verhoef, M. & Eng, J. An Assessment of the Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as an Optimal Healing Environment. Evid-Based-Integrative-Med 1, 195–202 (2004). https://doi.org/10.2165/01197065-200401030-00007

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/01197065-200401030-00007

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