Mahapatra, Saswati

Background Music therapy (MT) programs have been used in various health care settings to reduce patients’ pain, anxiety, and stress. However, few studies have investigated its effects on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), a frequently serious event requiring extensive rehabilitation. Objective This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of offering music-assisted relaxation (MAR) during rehabilitation for patients with SCI. We also measured the effect of MAR on the patients’ pain, anxiety, and stress levels. Methods Patients were hospitalized at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) from September 2015 through September 2017 for rehabilitation of an SCI. Eligible patients received 2, 20-minute, personalized MAR sessions. Interventions were facilitated by a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) and included diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, and passive muscle relaxation with live guitar accompaniment and spoken, improvised, or singing voice. Two surveys (Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7] and Perceived Stress Scale [PSS-10]) were used at the time of study consent and again upon hospital dismissal. Pain, anxiety, and relaxation were assessed before and after both MT sessions with visual analog scales (VASs), scored from 0 to 10. Participants completed a 7-question satisfaction survey after the second MAR session. Results Twenty patients were enrolled (12 men, 8 women); 13 (65%) completed the MAR interventions. The mean (SD) age was 53.7 (17.7) years. VAS scores for pain significantly improved after both sessions (P ≤ .02). VAS scores for anxiety also significantly improved after both sessions (P ≤ .02), as did VAS scores for relaxation (P ≤ .02 for both). The satisfaction survey indicated that patients generally believed that they benefited from MT. Rehabilitation staff indicated that MT did not interfere with routine clinical care. Conclusion MT with live MAR is a feasible treatment for patients with SCI and may be effective for reducing their pain and anxiety.

Background We previously reported on a pilot study to assess the incorporation of a novel wellness assessment device, the Preventiometer (iPEx5 GmbH, Greifswald, Germany), into an academic medical practice. The present follow-up study expands on those data and evaluates the acceptability of the assessment process in a larger sample population. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate participant satisfaction with the Preventiometer wellness assessment. Methods A total of 60 healthy volunteers participated. Each participant underwent a comprehensive wellness assessment with the Preventiometer and received data from more than 30 diagnostic tests. A 32-question survey (with a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10) was used to rate the wellness assessment tests and participants’ impressions of the wellness assessment. Results Each assessment had a significantly higher rating than 7 ( P < .001), and the majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied (98.3%), and they strongly agreed that they were engaged the entire time (93.2%), and liked the instant test results feature of the Preventiometer device (93.2%). Conclusion This study confirms findings from our previous pilot study regarding the feasibility of the Preventiometer as a wellness assessment tool. The study further demonstrated that 98% of participants were satisfied with the assessment and that all of them would recommend it to others.

Background Infertility is a global public health issue. Therapies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) are effective but may be associated with considerable anxiety. Preliminary data suggest that decreasing this anxiety might lead to improved outcomes. Objective To determine whether lavender aromatherapy (LA) reduces anxiety during an IUI procedure. Methods A randomized controlled trial of women undergoing IUI at a hospital-based fertility clinic. The intervention and comparison were the use of LA vs water. Measurements were the change in anxiety level during an IUI procedure, with secondary assessment of pain scores, patient satisfaction, and pregnancy rates. Results In total, 67 women were screened, and 62 women randomly assigned to either placebo (n = 31) or LA (n = 31). No differences were observed in baseline demographic characteristics or visual analog scores for anxiety before IUI (mean [95% CI], 33.9 [25.2 to 45.6] mm vs 41.0 [33.0 to 49.0] mm) in the LA and placebo groups. However, a statistically significant change in anxiety was observed after LA inhalation during the procedure (mean [95% CI], −11.2 [−19.1 to −3.2]) compared with placebo (mean [95% CI], 1.3 [−5.6 to 8.2]; P = .02). No significant difference was observed in pain during IUI in the LA group vs placebo group. Patient satisfaction was high, with 93% of respondents in the LA group satisfied with the aromatherapy during their procedure. Additionally, 76% of participants who received placebo reported that they would prefer to use LA during their IUI. No statistically significant difference was detected in pregnancy rates between the 2 groups: 19.4% with LA vs 9.7% with placebo ( P = .47). Conclusion LA reduced anxiety and was preferred by women during IUI fertility treatments.

Background Patients from various countries may have unique patterns of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and unique reasons for using it. Objective Our objective was to assess the use of CAM among patients from the Gulf region attending the Executive and International Health Program of the Department of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Methods This cross-sectional survey was administered to all patients who were from the Gulf region and were undergoing outpatient evaluation in the Executive and International Health Program. After their initial medical evaluation by a physician, the patients were invited to anonymously complete the modified International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire. Results The survey was completed by 69 patients (41 women, 27 men; mean age, 45.4 years). The most frequently seen providers for CAM treatments were physicians (71.0% of patients), spiritual healers (29.0%), and chiropractors (20.3%). CAM treatments most frequently received from a physician were massage therapy (51.0%), hijama (38.8%), spiritual healing (24.5%), and acupuncture or herbs (16.3%). The most frequently used dietary supplements were ginger (42.0%), bee products (30.4%), and garlic (27.5%). The most common self-help therapies were prayers for health (68.1%), meditation (15.9%), and relaxation techniques (11.6%). CAM therapy, including visits to CAM providers, was used by 92.8% of patients. CAM was mainly used to improve well-being and long-term health conditions rather than for acute illnesses. Conclusion The use of CAM was high among our patients from the Gulf region, and the CAM therapies used by this population differed from the ones used by US patients. Physicians providing care to patients from the Gulf region should be aware of how the use of CAM may affect the care needs of these patients.