The aim of this study was to identify and explore perceived meaningful changes in whole person quality of life, wellbeing, and subjective symptoms following a whole person integrative health (IH) approach for breast cancer.
Materials and Methods:
Descriptive design with mixed methods for data collection was used. The Self-Assessment of Change questionnaire and five additional questions based on the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 retrospectively formatted were completed. Interviews used open-ended questions for qualitative data. IH medical records were reviewed for context. Participants (n = 33) receiving integrative care were recruited from Mederi Center in Ashland, Oregon. Participants were included from throughout the United States with diagnosed breast cancer regardless of the type or staging.
Results:
IH participation was associated with improved self-assessed quality-of-life indicators with the greatest change in whole person domain items “overwhelm/empowered,” “anxious/calm” and physical domain items “not sleeping well/sleeping well,” “exhausted/energized.” Meaningful changes were experienced with participant identified problems. Participants' stories indicated experiences characterized by shifts in being, decisional intersections, relational frameworks, and IH as a pathway to flourishing.
Conclusions:
Whole person IH engagement resulted in meaningful changes in well-being, improved symptom profiles, and shifts in being with personal flourishing.
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