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One Health: a holistic approach to improving the health of people, animals and the environment

November / december 2020 | volume 19, number 6.

• November / December 2020 Global Health Matters newsletter [PDF <1M]

Spillover events, where diseases jump from animals to humans, are increasing in frequency. Humans have acquired MERS coronavirus through close contact with camels.

Focus on One Health research

• Prawn farming reduces disease, provides food source in Senegal
• Scientists in Tanzania show bacterial zoonoses, not malaria, often the cause of febrile diseases
• Research improves health among Mongolian livestock herders

Researchers may never discover exactly how the current novel coronavirus outbreak began, but they agree that as humans have changed the way they interact with animals and the environment, emerging infectious diseases are rapidly growing in frequency. Accelerating rates of deforestation, human settlements encroaching on forests, global trade and travel, and livestock production are thought to be the underlying drivers of so-called “spillover” events, when diseases jump from animals to humans. For example, bats are one of the species suspected to be the source of the virus that causes COVID-19, while viruses in bats and other animals spurred the Ebola outbreak that began in 2014, MERS in 2012 and SARS in 2002, and others. Constant mutations jeopardize existing vaccines and treatments.

With 70% of emerging infectious diseases originating in animals, there is increasing urgency to prioritize the study of zoonotic diseases. “To anticipate threats for humans, we’ve got to partner with people in other disciplines including animal and environmental health,” said Dr. Gregory Gray, a Fogarty grantee and epidemiologist at Duke University.

The One Health movement aims to integrate the efforts of multiple disciplines to improve health for people, animals and the environment. It has become a global effort, including annual conferences that bring scientists and policymakers together to consider how to control existing and emerging infectious diseases. Since the majority of diseases that occur in humans also affect animals, it's important that the biomedical research workforce includes multidisciplinary practitioners with a broad understanding of subjects such as animal anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, behavior science and infectious diseases. Communication strategies and public outreach are also critical to develop interventions such as educational programs for workers to improve hygiene and increase use of personal protective equipment, development of rapid diagnostics and vaccines, and improved food safety measures.

NIH’s zoonotic research is based at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana. Part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it’s a state-of-the-art biomedical facility designed for investigations of highly pathogenic viruses. Fogarty supports studies of emerging global threats through its Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program, a partnership with the National Science Foundation. The initiative supports efforts to understand the underlying ecological and biological mechanisms that govern relationships between environmental changes and the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. Funded researchers explore how environmental events such as habitat alteration, biological invasion, climate change and pollution alter the risks of disease outbreaks in both animals and humans.

As outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases - such as the current COVID-19 pandemic - increase in frequency and impact, scientists and policymakers are calling for an increased emphasis on global preparedness.

More Information

• NIH One Health resources:
• NIH Veterinary Division of Veterinary Resources: Educational training and professional resources
• NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs
• NIH Physician-Scientist Workforce Report 2014: Chapter 5 - Veterinarian-Scientists
• Other U.S. Government One Health resources:
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): One Health
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
• A Pandemic and a Call to Action for One Health: The FDA One Health Initiative , June 11, 2020
• One Health: It’s for All of Us
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): One Health
• One Health resources from others:
• Duke University One Health Training Program
• One Health Commission
• One Health Global Network
• One Health Initiative
• One Health Platform
• WHO Tripartite Zoonosis Guide
• World Bank: One Health
• World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) One Health resources

Resources and publications related to the article Prawn farming reduces disease, provides food source in Senegal :

• Fact sheet: Schistosomiasis , WHO
• About Schistosomiasis , CDC
• Profile: Dr. Susanne Sokolow via Stanford University Woods Institute for the Environment
• Grant: Effects of agricultural expansion and intensification on infections via NIH RePORTER
• Related program: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Initiative (EEID)
• Grant: Emergence and biological control of schistosomiasis via NIH RePORTER
• Related publications featuring the results of the intervention:
• How to identify win-win interventions that benefit human health and conservation Nature Sustainability , November 16, 2020
• Precision mapping of snail habitat provides a powerful indicator of human schistosomiasis transmission Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , November 12, 2019
• Agrochemicals increase risk of human schistosomiasis by supporting higher densities of intermediate hosts Nature Communications , February 26, 2018
• Reduced transmission of human schistosomiasis after restoration of a native river prawn that preys on the snail intermediate host Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , August 4, 2015

Resources and publications related to the article Scientists in Tanzania show bacterial zoonoses, not malaria, often the cause of febrile diseases :

• Profile: Dr. John Crump via University of Otago
• NIAID/NIH grant: Investigating Febrile Deaths in Tanzania (INDITe) via NIH RePORTER
• NIAID/NIH grant: Acute HIV-1 Infections Network Core via NIH RePORTER
• Fogarty/NIH grant: The Impact and Society Ecology of Bacterial Zoonoses in Northern Tanzania: Under via NIH RePORTER
• Related Fogarty program: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases Initiative (EEID)
• Related publication: Fever, bacterial zoonoses, and One Health in sub-Saharan Africa Clinical Medicine , September 2019
• Related publication: Mixed Methods Survey of Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Practice among Animal and Human Healthcare Providers in Moshi, Tanzania PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases , March 4, 2016
• Related publication: Global burden of human brucellosis: a systematic review of disease frequency PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases , October 25, 2012
• Campaign: Not Every Fever is Malaria (Tanzania) via Compass

Resources and publications related to the article Research improves health among Mongolian livestock herders :

• Profile: Dr. Gregory Gray via Duke University Global Health Institute
• Grant: One Health Innovation Fellowships for Zoonotic Disease Research in Mongolia , including related publications, via NIH RePORTER
• Related publication: Knowledge and practices surrounding zoonotic disease among Mongolian herding households Pastoralism , April 20, 2020
• Related publication: Potential risk factors for zoonotic disease transmission among Mongolian herder households caring for horses and camels Pastoralism, January 29, 2018
• Related Fogarty program: Framework Programs for Global Health Innovation

To view Adobe PDF files, download current, free accessible plug-ins from Adobe's website .

Related Fogarty Programs

• Framework Programs for Global Health
• Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)

Related Global Health Research Topics

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Home / Living Well / A holistic approach to integrative medicine

A holistic approach to integrative medicine

As studies continue to reveal the important role the mind plays in healing and in fighting disease, a transformation is taking place in hospitals and clinics across the country.

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Interested in integrative medicine? Read the following excerpt from the Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine .

People who take an active role in their health care experience better health and improved healing. It’s a commonsense concept that’s been gaining scientific support for several years now.

As studies continue to reveal the important role the mind plays in healing and in fighting disease, a transformation is taking place in hospitals and clinics across the country. Doctors, in partnership with their patients, are turning to practices once considered alternative as they attempt to treat the whole person — mind and spirit, as well as body. This type of approach is known today as integrative medicine.

Incorporate integrative medicine alongside your treatments

Integrative medicine describes an evolution taking place in many health care institutions. This evolution is due in part to a shift in the medical industry as health care professionals focus on wellness as well as on treating disease. This shift offers a new opportunity for integrative therapies.

Integrative medicine is the practice of using conventional medicine alongside evidence-based complementary treatments. The idea behind integrative medicine is not to replace conventional medicine, but to find ways to complement existing treatments.

For example, taking a prescribed medication may not be enough to bring your blood pressure level into a healthy range, but adding meditation to your daily wellness routine may give you the boost you need — and prevent you from needing to take a second medication.

Integrative medicine isn’t just about fixing things when they’re broken; it’s about keeping things from breaking in the first place. And in many cases, it means bringing new therapies and approaches to the table, such as meditation, mindfulness and tai chi. Sometimes, integrative approaches help lead people into a complete lifestyle of wellness.

What types of integrative medicines are available?

What are some of the most promising practices in integrative medicine? Here’s a list of 10 treatments that you might consider for your own health and wellness:

• Acupuncture is a Chinese practice that involves inserting very thin needles at strategic points on the body.
• Guided imagery involves bringing to mind a specific image or a series of memories to produce certain responses in the body.
• Hypnotherapy involves a trancelike state where the mind is more open to suggestion.
• Massage uses pressure to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. There are many different kinds of massage, and some have specific health goals in mind.
• Meditation involves clearing and calming the mind by focusing on your breathing or a word, phrase or sound.
• Music therapy can influence both your mental and physical health.
• Spinal manipulation, which is also called spinal adjustment, is practiced by chiropractors and physical therapists.
• Spirituality has many definitions, but its focus is on an individual’s connection to others and to the search for meaning in life.
• Tai chi is a graceful exercise in which you move from pose to pose.
• Yoga involves a series of postures that often include a focus on breathing. Yoga is commonly practiced to relieve stress, as well as treat heart disease and depression.

Who can integrative medicine help?

A number of surveys focused on the use of integrative medicine by adults in the United States suggest that more than a third of Americans are already using these practices as part of their health care.

These surveys demonstrate that although the United States has the most advanced medical technology in the world, Americans are turning to integrative treatments — and there are several reasons for this trend. Here are three of the top reasons why more and more people are exploring integrative medicine.

Integrative medicine for people engaged in their health

One reason integrative medicine is popular is that people in general are taking a greater, more active role in their own health care. People are more aware of health issues and are more open to trying different treatment approaches.

Internet access is also helping to fuel this trend by playing a significant role in improving patient education. Two decades ago, consumers had little access to research or reliable medical information. Today, clinical trials and pharmaceutical developments are more widely available for public knowledge.

For example, people who have arthritis can find a good deal of information about it online. They may find research showing that glucosamine, for example, helps with joint pain and doesn’t appear to have a lot of risks associated with it. With this information in hand, they feel empowered to ask their doctors if glucosamine might work with their current treatment plans.

Integrative medicine for an aging population

A second reason for the wider acceptance of integrative treatments is the influence of the baby boomer generation. This generation is open to a variety of treatments as it explores ways to age well. In addition, baby boomers are often dealing with several medical issues, from weight control to joint pain, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Not everyone wants to start with medication; many prefer to try complementary methods first.

Integrative medicine for the chronically stressed

A third reason for the growth, interest and use of integrative therapies is the degree of chronic stress in the American lifestyle. Workplace stress, long commutes, relationship issues and financial worries are just some of the concerns that make up a long list of stressors.

Although medications can effectively treat short-term stress, they can become just as damaging — and even as life-threatening — as stress itself is when taken long term. Integrative medicine, on the other hand, offers several effective, evidence-based approaches to dealing with stress that don’t involve medication. Many otherwise healthy people are learning to manage the stress in their lives successfully by using complementary methods such as yoga, meditation, massage and guided imagery.

Considering that many healthy people are engaging in integrative practices, it isn’t surprising to find out that they’re turning to these treatments in times of illness, as well. Here are just a few ways integrative medicine is used to help people cope with medical conditions:

• Meditation can help manage the anxiety and discomfort of medical procedures.
• Massage has been shown to improve recovery rates after heart surgery.
• Gentle tai chi or yoga can assist the transition back to an active life after illness or surgery.

Conventional Western medicine doesn’t have cures for everything. Many people who have arthritis, back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia and anxiety look to integrative treatments to help them manage these often-chronic conditions without the need for medications that may have serious side effects or that may be addictive.

The risks and benefits of integrative medicine

As interest in integrative medicine continues to grow, so does the research in this field. Researchers are studying these approaches in an effort to separate evidence-based, effective therapies from those that don’t show effectiveness or may be risky. In the process, this research is helping to identify many genuinely beneficial treatments. In essence, both consumer interest and scientific research have led to further review of these therapies within modern medicine.

As evidence showing the safety and efficacy of many of these therapies grows, physicians are starting to integrate aspects of complementary medicine into conventional medical care. Ultimately, this is what has led to the current term integrative medicine.

Ask your healthcare team about integrative medicine and wellness

If you’re interested in improving your health, many integrative medicine practices can help. Not only can they speed your recovery from illness or surgery, but they can also help you cope with a chronic condition. In addition, complementary practices such as meditation and yoga can work to keep you healthy and may actually prevent many diseases.

Relevant reading

Mayo Clinic The Integrative Guide to Good Health

As Americans seek greater control of their health, explosive growth is taking place in the field of integrative medicine. More and more, people are looking for more natural or holistic ways to maintain good health; they want not only to manage and prevent illness but also to improve their quality…

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Know the Science : This resource provides tools for both consumers and healthcare practitioners to help make sense of the science that underpins holistic and complementary health issues. 

Evidence-Based Medicine - Literature Reviews : These literature reviews compile and analyze the existing scientific evidence on a variety of complementary and integrative health topics.   

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No health minded person’s library is complete without this authoritative histoical work.

This series of nine Journals of Holistic Health constitutes a chronicle of the new health system resulting from the holistic health movement. These journals brought in the new paradigm that has become the standard for responsible health care. The articles are written by prominent leaders in health care — people whose names you will recognize. They provide a comprehensive summary of the many facets of holistic health — integrating body, mind and spirit.

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Influencing holistic health policy

Affiliation.

• 1 University Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Australia. [email protected]
• PMID: 17891313
• PMCID: PMC5901293
• DOI: 10.1100/tsw.2007.205

Beliefs that health policy-making is an inherently 'ideological' or 'irrational' process appear to have worked to prevent researchers from developing better understandings of the kind of evidence that does work to influence policy. Without a model of policy-making that positions policy decision-makers as capable of being informed by specific forms of evidence that speak to policy contexts, it is difficult for research to begin to shape health policy. Recent years have seen the development of a research industry that focuses on developing and describing research approaches for shaping health and social services policy. This analysis paper offers a highly selective overview of generic features of policy-relevant research for holistic health. It aims to support efforts to develop better evidence for health policy by exploring elements of the genre of policy-relevant research, particularly as it applies to the challenges of holistic health policy-making. First, it offers a conceptual definition of holistic health policy-making, as well as research evidence for this kind of policy making, identifying some of the generic features of policy-relevant research. Second, it outlines some of the key practices for delivering sound evidence for health policy, in ways that highlight the salient differences between doing research for holistic health policy, and doing academic research in health. The paper concludes with directions for developing better evidence for holistic health policy-making that question the assumptions of quality which often inform elite funding agencies, calling for their diversification.

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• Social construction and the evidence-based drug policy endeavour. Lancaster K. Lancaster K. Int J Drug Policy. 2014 Sep;25(5):948-51. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.01.002. Epub 2014 Jan 13. Int J Drug Policy. 2014. PMID: 24491356
• Anchoring contextual analysis in health policy and systems research: A narrative review of contextual factors influencing health committees in low and middle income countries. George A, Scott K, Garimella S, Mondal S, Ved R, Sheikh K. George A, et al. Soc Sci Med. 2015 May;133:159-67. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.049. Epub 2015 Mar 28. Soc Sci Med. 2015. PMID: 25875322 Review.
• The evidence-policy divide: a 'critical computational linguistics' approach to the language of 18 health agency CEOs from 9 countries. Bell E, Seidel BM. Bell E, et al. BMC Public Health. 2012 Oct 30;12(1):932. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-932. BMC Public Health. 2012. PMID: 23110541 Free PMC article.
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77 interesting medical research topics for 2024

Last updated

25 November 2023

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead

Medical research is the gateway to improved patient care and expanding our available treatment options. However, finding a relevant and compelling research topic can be challenging.

Use this article as a jumping-off point to select an interesting medical research topic for your next paper or clinical study.

• How to choose a medical research topic

When choosing a research topic , it’s essential to consider a couple of things. What topics interest you? What unanswered questions do you want to address? 

During the decision-making and brainstorming process, here are a few helpful tips to help you pick the right medical research topic:

Focus on a particular field of study

The best medical research is specific to a particular area. Generalized studies are often too broad to produce meaningful results, so we advise picking a specific niche early in the process. 

Maybe a certain topic interests you, or your industry knowledge reveals areas of need.

Look into commonly researched topics

Once you’ve chosen your research field, do some preliminary research. What have other academics done in their papers and projects? 

From this list, you can focus on specific topics that interest you without accidentally creating a copycat project. This groundwork will also help you uncover any literature gaps—those may be beneficial areas for research.

Get curious and ask questions

Now you can get curious. Ask questions that start with why, how, or what. These questions are the starting point of your project design and will act as your guiding light throughout the process. 

For example: 

What impact does pollution have on children’s lung function in inner-city neighborhoods? 

Why is pollution-based asthma on the rise? 

How can we address pollution-induced asthma in young children? 

• 77 medical research topics worth exploring in 2023

Need some research inspiration for your upcoming paper or clinical study? We’ve compiled a list of 77 topical and in-demand medical research ideas. Let’s take a look. 

• Exciting new medical research topics

If you want to study cutting-edge topics, here are some exciting options:

COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms

Since 2020, COVID-19 has been a hot-button topic in medicine, along with the long-term symptoms in those with a history of COVID-19. 

Examples of COVID-19-related research topics worth exploring include:

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiac and respiratory health

COVID-19 vaccination rates

The evolution of COVID-19 symptoms over time

New variants and strains of the COVID-19 virus

Changes in social behavior and public health regulations amid COVID-19

Vaccinations

Finding ways to cure or reduce the disease burden of chronic infectious diseases is a crucial research area. Vaccination is a powerful option and a great topic to research. 

Examples of vaccination-related research topics include:

mRNA vaccines for viral infections

Biomaterial vaccination capabilities

Vaccination rates based on location, ethnicity, or age

Public opinion about vaccination safety 

Artificial tissues fabrication

With the need for donor organs increasing, finding ways to fabricate artificial bioactive tissues (and possibly organs) is a popular research area. 

Examples of artificial tissue-related research topics you can study include:

The viability of artificially printed tissues

Tissue substrate and building block material studies

The ethics and efficacy of artificial tissue creation

• Medical research topics for medical students

For many medical students, research is a big driver for entering healthcare. If you’re a medical student looking for a research topic, here are some great ideas to work from:

Sleep disorders

Poor sleep quality is a growing problem, and it can significantly impact a person’s overall health. 

Examples of sleep disorder-related research topics include:

How stress affects sleep quality

The prevalence and impact of insomnia on patients with mental health conditions

Possible triggers for sleep disorder development

The impact of poor sleep quality on psychological and physical health

How melatonin supplements impact sleep quality

Alzheimer’s and dementia 

Cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise worldwide. They currently have no cure. As a result, research about these topics is in high demand. 

Examples of dementia-related research topics you could explore include:

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a chosen population

Early onset symptoms of dementia

Possible triggers or causes of cognitive decline with age

Treatment options for dementia-like conditions

The mental and physical burden of caregiving for patients with dementia

• Lifestyle habits and public health

Modern lifestyles have profoundly impacted the average person’s daily habits, and plenty of interesting topics explore its effects. 

Examples of lifestyle and public health-related research topics include:

The nutritional intake of college students

The impact of chronic work stress on overall health

The rise of upper back and neck pain from laptop use

Prevalence and cause of repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Controversial medical research paper topics

Medical research is a hotbed of controversial topics, content, and areas of study. 

If you want to explore a more niche (and attention-grabbing) concept, here are some controversial medical research topics worth looking into:

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis

Depending on where you live, the legalization and use of cannabis for medical conditions is controversial for the general public and healthcare providers.

Examples of medical cannabis-related research topics that might grab your attention include:

The legalization process of medical cannabis

The impact of cannabis use on developmental milestones in youth users

Cannabis and mental health diagnoses

CBD’s impact on chronic pain

Prevalence of cannabis use in young people

The impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development 

Understanding how THC impacts cognitive function

Human genetics

The Human Genome Project identified, mapped, and sequenced all human DNA genes. Its completion in 2003 opened up a world of exciting and controversial studies in human genetics.

Examples of human genetics-related research topics worth delving into include:

Medical genetics and the incidence of genetic-based health disorders

Behavioral genetics differences between identical twins

Genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders

Machine learning technologies for genetic research

Sexual health studies

Human sexuality and sexual health are important (yet often stigmatized) medical topics that need new research and analysis.

As a diverse field ranging from sexual orientation studies to sexual pathophysiology, examples of sexual health-related research topics include:

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within a chosen population

Mental health conditions within the LGBTQIA+ community

The impact of untreated sexually transmitted infections

Access to safe sex resources (condoms, dental dams, etc.) in rural areas

• Health and wellness research topics

Human wellness and health are trendy topics in modern medicine as more people are interested in finding natural ways to live healthier lifestyles. 

If this field of study interests you, here are some big topics in the wellness space:

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten allergies and intolerances have risen over the past few decades. If you’re interested in exploring this topic, your options range in severity from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to full-blown anaphylaxis. 

Some examples of gluten sensitivity-related research topics include:

The pathophysiology and incidence of Celiac disease

Early onset symptoms of gluten intolerance

The prevalence of gluten allergies within a set population

Gluten allergies and the incidence of other gastrointestinal health conditions

Pollution and lung health

Living in large urban cities means regular exposure to high levels of pollutants. 

As more people become interested in protecting their lung health, examples of impactful lung health and pollution-related research topics include:

The extent of pollution in densely packed urban areas

The prevalence of pollution-based asthma in a set population

Lung capacity and function in young people

The benefits and risks of steroid therapy for asthma

Pollution risks based on geographical location

Plant-based diets

Plant-based diets like vegan and paleo diets are emerging trends in healthcare due to their limited supporting research. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential benefits or risks of holistic, diet-based medicine, examples of plant-based diet research topics to explore include:

Vegan and plant-based diets as part of disease management

Potential risks and benefits of specific plant-based diets

Plant-based diets and their impact on body mass index

The effect of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease management

Health supplements

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Many health-conscious people take supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal medicine, and more. 

Examples of health supplement-related research topics worth investigating include:

Omega-3 fish oil safety and efficacy for cardiac patients

The benefits and risks of regular vitamin D supplementation

Health supplementation regulation and product quality

The impact of social influencer marketing on consumer supplement practices

Analyzing added ingredients in protein powders

• Healthcare research topics

Working within the healthcare industry means you have insider knowledge and opportunity. Maybe you’d like to research the overall system, administration, and inherent biases that disrupt access to quality care. 

While these topics are essential to explore, it is important to note that these studies usually require approval and oversight from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the study is ethical and does not harm any subjects. 

For this reason, the IRB sets protocols that require additional planning, so consider this when mapping out your study’s timeline. 

Here are some examples of trending healthcare research areas worth pursuing:

The pros and cons of electronic health records

The rise of electronic healthcare charting and records has forever changed how medical professionals and patients interact with their health data. 

Examples of electronic health record-related research topics include:

The number of medication errors reported during a software switch

Nurse sentiment analysis of electronic charting practices

Ethical and legal studies into encrypting and storing personal health data

Inequities within healthcare access

Many barriers inhibit people from accessing the quality medical care they need. These issues result in health disparities and injustices. 

Examples of research topics about health inequities include:

The impact of social determinants of health in a set population

Early and late-stage cancer stage diagnosis in urban vs. rural populations

Affordability of life-saving medications

Health insurance limitations and their impact on overall health

Diagnostic and treatment rates across ethnicities

People who belong to an ethnic minority are more likely to experience barriers and restrictions when trying to receive quality medical care. This is due to systemic healthcare racism and bias. 

As a result, diagnostic and treatment rates in minority populations are a hot-button field of research. Examples of ethnicity-based research topics include:

Cancer biopsy rates in BIPOC women

The prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities

Access inequalities in women’s health preventative screenings

The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Black populations

• Pharmaceutical research topics

Large pharmaceutical companies are incredibly interested in investing in research to learn more about potential cures and treatments for diseases. 

If you’re interested in building a career in pharmaceutical research, here are a few examples of in-demand research topics:

Cancer treatment options

Clinical research is in high demand as pharmaceutical companies explore novel cancer treatment options outside of chemotherapy and radiation. 

Examples of cancer treatment-related research topics include:

Stem cell therapy for cancer

Oncogenic gene dysregulation and its impact on disease

Cancer-causing viral agents and their risks

Treatment efficacy based on early vs. late-stage cancer diagnosis

Cancer vaccines and targeted therapies

Immunotherapy for cancer

Pain medication alternatives

Historically, opioid medications were the primary treatment for short- and long-term pain. But, with the opioid epidemic getting worse, the need for alternative pain medications has never been more urgent. 

Examples of pain medication-related research topics include:

Opioid withdrawal symptoms and risks

Early signs of pain medication misuse

Anti-inflammatory medications for pain control

• Identify trends in your medical research with Dovetail

Are you interested in contributing life-changing research? Today’s medical research is part of the future of clinical patient care. 

As your go-to resource for speedy and accurate data analysis , we are proud to partner with healthcare researchers to innovate and improve the future of healthcare.

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What Is Holistic Medicine and How Does It Work?

What Is Holistic Medicine?

Holistic medicine is a form of healing that considers the whole person – body, mind, spirit, and emotions – in the quest for optimal health and wellness. According to the holistic medicine philosophy, you can achieve the best possible health by gaining proper balance in life.

Holistic medicine practitioners believe that the whole person is made up of parts that depend on one another, and if one part isn't working properly, all the other parts will be affected. So if you have imbalances (physical, emotional, or spiritual) in your life, it can harm your overall health.

A holistic doctor may use all forms of health care, from conventional medication to alternative therapies, to treat you. 

What’s the difference between holistic and natural medicine?

Naturopathy, which you might hear called natural medicine, is a type of holistic medicine. Naturopathy uses only natural remedies, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture, to help your body heal itself. But some holistic doctors use conventional treatments, such as medication, together with such remedies. 

Principles of Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine is based on the belief that unconditional love and support is the most powerful healer and a person is ultimately responsible for their own health and well-being. Other principles of the holistic approach include the following:

• All people have innate healing powers.
• The patient is a person, not a disease.
• Healing takes a team approach involving the patient and doctor, and addresses all parts of a person's life using a variety of health care practices.
• Treatment involves fixing the cause of the condition, not just easing the symptoms.

Types of Holistic Doctors

Some types of holistic health care providers hold medical degrees. So what's the difference when you visit a holistic doctor vs. a traditional doctor? 

Here's an example: When a person with migraine headaches sees a holistic doctor, instead of simply prescribing medications, the doctor will likely look at all the things that could be causing the headaches. That might include other health problems, diet and sleep habits, stress and personal problems, and the patient's preferred spiritual practices. The holistic therapy plan may involve drugs to relieve symptoms, but also lifestyle changes to keep the headaches from coming back.

Other holistic providers may not have medical degrees, but could have degrees in various types of complementary or alternative medicine. Along with medical doctors, holistic providers may include doctors of osteopathy, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, and homeopathic doctors.

Integrative physician

This is a licensed medical doctor (MD) who treats patients with mind-body practices like massage, acupuncture, and nutrition along with traditional medical techniques.

Naturopathic doctor

In states that license them, naturopathic doctors (NDs) hold degrees from naturopathic medical schools. But in some areas, naturopaths – who aren't licensed – may call themselves naturopathic doctors. Both types of practitioners aim to help the body itself through natural therapies, like herbal remedies and nutrition. 

A doctor of osteopathy (DO), is licensed to practice medicine, and has a degree from an osteopathic medical school. Some DOs are also trained in manual medicine, which is hands-on manipulation of your tissues and joints.

Chiropractor

Chiropractic medicine is based on the idea that the function of your body is linked to the alignment of your spine. Chiropractors do hands-on manipulation of your spine in an effort to ease pain and improve your health without medicine or surgery. They may do imaging and lab tests, and sometimes give you exercises to do at home. While not MDs, they have doctorate of c hiropractic (DC) degrees and have at least 4 years of post-graduate training at a chiropractic college.

Ayurvedic doctor

Ayurveda is a form of traditional medicine that began in India. According to ayurvedic theory, illnesses result when your body’s life force, or prana, is out of balance. An a yurvedic doctor seeks to restore this balance with practices that include special diets, herbal supplements, yoga, massage, and meditation. Unlike India, the U.S. doesn't license ayurvedic  practitioners, and they aren't considered medical doctors.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the idea that every person has a life flow, or chi. When this flow is hindered, illness is the result. Traditional Chinese medicine aims to restore the flow using acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and a type of mind-body exercise called qi gong. Practitioners can become certified after completing 3 to 4 years of study at an accredited institution. But they're not considered medical doctors.

Holistic Medicine: Types of Treatments

Practitioners use a variety of holistic healing techniques to help their patients take responsibility for their own well-being and attain optimal health. Depending on the practitioner's training, these may include:

• Patient education on lifestyle changes and self-care to promote wellness. This may include diet, exercise, psychotherapy, relationship and spiritual counseling, and more.
• Complementary and alternative therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, massage therapy , naturopathy, and others
• Western medications and surgical procedures

Holistic medicine is meant to complement, not replace, traditional medical care. 

Holistic Medicine: Where to Find a Holistic Provider

To find a holistic practitioner in your area, visit the American Holistic Health Association  website. There you can use an online provider search to find a practitioner near you.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing a holistic provider:

Don't go to just anyone. As with all professionals, some are better at their jobs than others. Before choosing a holistic medicine doctor, get a recommendation from someone you trust, or contact a credible health organization and ask for a recommendation.

Do your homework. When selecting a holistic doctor, find out as much as you can about that person’s training, experience, specialty, and association with professional organizations and hospital affiliations. Are they board-certified in holistic medicine by a credible medical board? Also, consider the doctor's treatment philosophy. Is it similar to your own views?

How do you feel? Consider how comfortable you are with the provider. Do they make you feel at ease? Is the provider respectful of your concerns and beliefs? Remember, holistic medicine takes a team approach, involving you and the provider, so make sure you feel comfortable and respected and that they are someone with whom you would like to work.

Appointment time. Choose a provider who will spend enough time with you so that they can gain a full understanding of your needs.

Are the right questions being asked? In order to understand you as a whole person and not just a disease, be prepared to answer lots of questions, including questions about your diet, exercise, sleep habits , how you feel emotionally, your religious beliefs and practices, close relationships, and more. 

Treatment options. When coming up with a treatment approach, does the wellness plan go beyond pills? Make sure the practitioner examines all lifestyle factors, along with medical factors that could be contributing to your illness.

Holistic medicine is an approach to health care that takes the whole person – mind, spirit, and body – into consideration. It includes a variety of practices, ranging from traditional medical treatments like drugs to alternative remedies like herbs and massage. The goal is not just to treat illnesses, but to address their root causes. 

Holistic Medicine FAQs

Is holistic medicine legit?

There are many forms of holistic medicine, including some that combine traditional Western medical techniques with alternative treatments. Some non-medical approaches, like exercise, a healthy diet, and stress reduction, are well-researched and known to work well. Others, like IV vitamin treatments , have little scientific evidence to back them up. That's why it's best to use such treatments to complement standard medical treatments, not replace them.

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Exploring Community Health Nursing Research Topics: A Comprehensive Guide for Nursing Students

Carla johnson.

• August 25, 2023
• Essay Topics and Ideas

Community health nursing is a dynamic and vital field within the nursing profession, focused on providing holistic care to populations within a defined community. This specialized branch of nursing goes beyond individual patient care, extending its reach to families, groups, and entire communities. This article will delve into community health nursing, explore its significance, and provide valuable resources for nursing students to engage in research, evidence-based practice (EBP) projects, capstone projects, research paper topics, research questions, and essay ideas.

What You'll Learn

Understanding Community Health Nursing: A Holistic Approach

Community health nursing emphasizes preventive care , health promotion, and disease prevention within a specific community. This holistic approach involves understanding the community’s unique needs, cultures, and challenges to provide targeted interventions that improve health outcomes. As nursing students, you will find this field to be a gateway to understanding the broader healthcare landscape and the interconnectedness of various factors that influence health.

PICOT Questions on Community Health Nursing

• P: Adult population in psychiatric care ; I: Implementation of daily RS questionnaire; C: Units without the daily survey; O: Reduction in utilization of restraint and seclusion; T: 6 months. Can the implementation of a daily RS (Restraint and Seclusion) questionnaire for adults in psychiatric care lead to a significant decrease in the utilization of restraint and seclusion within a period of 6 months?
• P: Pediatric population in school settings; I: Introduction of daily exercise regimen; C: Schools without daily exercise; O: Improvement in BMI and overall fitness; T: 1 academic year. Does introducing a daily exercise regimen in school settings for pediatric populations result in a noticeable improvement in BMI and overall fitness over the course of 1 academic year?
• P: Elderly population in assisted living facilities; I: Implementation of fall prevention program; C: Facilities without fall prevention program; O: Reduction in fall-related injuries; T: 1 year. Is there a significant reduction in fall-related injuries among the elderly residing in assisted living facilities after the implementation of a comprehensive fall prevention program within 1 year?
• P: Low-income pregnant women; I: Provision of prenatal education classes; C: Those without access to prenatal education; O: Increase in prenatal knowledge and healthier pregnancy outcomes; T: Throughout gestation. Can providing prenatal education classes to low-income pregnant women lead to increased prenatal knowledge and improved pregnancy outcomes when compared to those without access to such education?
• P: Diabetic population within the community; I: Establishment of a mobile diabetic clinic; C: No mobile clinic available; O: Enhanced diabetic management and reduced hospitalizations; T: 2 years. Does the establishment of a mobile diabetic clinic within the community lead to better diabetic management and a decrease in hospitalizations over a span of 2 years?
• P: Adolescent population in schools; I: Implementation of comprehensive sexual education; C: Schools with standard sexual education; O: Reduction in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); T: 3 years. Over a period of 3 years, does the implementation of comprehensive sexual education in schools result in a significant decrease in the rates of teen pregnancies and STIs among adolescents compared to schools with standard sexual education?
• P: Homeless population; I: Launch of mobile healthcare unit; C: No access to regular healthcare; O: Improvement in overall health status and decrease in emergency room visits; T: 1 year. Can the introduction of a mobile healthcare unit for the homeless population improve their overall health status and a noticeable reduction in emergency room visits within a year?
• P: Rural elderly population; I: Initiation of telehealth services ; C: Lack of telehealth services; O: Enhanced access to healthcare and better management of chronic conditions; T: 18 months. Does the introduction of telehealth services for the rural elderly population lead to increased access to healthcare services and improved management of chronic conditions over the course of 18 months?
• P: New mothers; I: Implementation of postpartum support groups; C: No postpartum support groups available; O: Reduction in postpartum depression rates and improved maternal well-being; T: 1 year. Can the implementation of postpartum support groups for new mothers lead to a significant reduction in postpartum depression rates and an overall improvement in maternal well-being within a year?
• P: LGBTQ+ youth; I: Creating safe spaces in schools; C: Absence of designated safe spaces; O: Decreased mental health challenges and higher academic achievement; T: Ongoing. Does creating safe spaces within schools for LGBTQ+ youth lead to a noticeable decrease in mental health challenges and a rise in academic achievement over an ongoing period?

Evidence-Based Practice Projects Ideas

• Evaluating the effectiveness of community-wide vaccination drives in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Assessing the impact of a smoke-free policy in public spaces on community members’ respiratory health.
• Investigating the outcomes of a nutrition education program in improving dietary habits among low-income families.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of a community-based mental health awareness campaign in reducing stigma and increasing help-seeking behavior.
• Exploring the outcomes of a diabetes management intervention using mobile health apps in urban communities.
• Studying the effects of a community gardening initiative on physical activity levels and nutrition awareness.
• Investigating the utilization and impact of telemedicine services in remote rural areas.
• Assessing the benefits of a community fitness program on cardiovascular health and overall well-being.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a school-based anti-bullying campaign on students’ mental health.
• Analyzing the outcomes of a community-driven initiative to increase access to clean drinking water in underserved areas.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas

• Developing a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for a local community.
• Designing and implementing a culturally sensitive prenatal care program for immigrant populations.
• Creating a curriculum for training community health workers in identifying and addressing social determinants of health.
• Establishing a support network for caregivers of elderly individuals living at home.
• Designing a mental health first aid training program for community leaders and volunteers.
• Implementing a community-based program to promote physical activity among children with obesity.
• Creating a resource guide for LGBTQ+ youth to access healthcare services without discrimination.
• Developing a community-wide initiative to combat opioid misuse and overdose.
• Establishing a telehealth platform for remote health consultations in underserved regions.
• Designing a comprehensive sexual education curriculum for high schools to address varying cultural norms.

Nursing Research Paper Topics

• The impact of community health nursing interventions on reducing health disparities .
• Exploring the role of community health nurses in disaster response and recovery.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of school-based health clinics in improving student health outcomes.
• Investigating the barriers and facilitators of healthcare access in underserved rural communities.
• The role of community health nursing in promoting healthy aging and elderly care.
• Addressing mental health stigma through community-based interventions led by nurses.
• Analyzing the outcomes of community health education programs on reducing tobacco use .
• Exploring the relationship between community engagement and positive maternal-child health outcomes.
• The effectiveness of telehealth services in bridging healthcare gaps in remote areas.
• Investigating the impact of community health nursing in preventing and managing chronic diseases.

Community Health Nursing Research Questions

• How does the presence of community health nurses influence health outcomes in underserved urban neighborhoods?
• What are the key components of successful school-based vaccination programs , and how do they impact disease prevention?
• How do cultural competence and sensitivity affect the effectiveness of community health nursing interventions?
• What are the main challenges community health nurses face in addressing social determinants of health ?
• How does community engagement contribute to the sustainability of community health initiatives led by nurses?
• What strategies effectively promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma within communities?
• How do telehealth services improve access to healthcare for individuals in geographically isolated regions?
• What role do community health nurses play in detecting and managing chronic diseases ?
• How do community health interventions impact healthcare utilization patterns and costs?
• What are the outcomes of community health nursing programs focused on improving maternal and child health?

Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

• The Role of Community Health Nursing in Promoting Population Health.
• Addressing Health Disparities: The Impact of Community Health Nursing.
• Community-Based Approaches to Preventing Teenage Pregnancy .
• Telehealth: Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Underserved Communities.
• Cultural Competence in Community Health Nursing: Challenges and Strategies.
• Disaster Preparedness and Response: The Critical Role of Community Health Nurses.
• The Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Community Health Nursing Interventions.
• Community Health Education: Strategies for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles.
• Exploring the Connection Between Mental Health and Community Well-being.
• Innovations in Community Health Nursing: Harnessing Technology for Better Outcomes.

As nursing students, you are poised to become the next generation of community health nurses, armed with the knowledge and skills to impact the health and well-being of diverse populations positively. Community health nursing offers numerous opportunities for research, practice, and advocacy. By delving into PICOT questions, evidence-based practice projects, capstone projects, research paper topics, and research questions, you can deepen your understanding of this vital field and contribute to its growth. Don’t hesitate to seek our writing services if you need assistance with your community health nursing assignments or essays. We understand the demands of nursing education and are here to support you in your academic journey. Your dedication to improving community health is commendable, and together, we can pave the way for healthier, more vibrant communities.

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• What are the qualifications of a community health nursing? To practice community health nursing, one typically needs a registered nurse (RN) license. Many community health nurses also hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and advanced practice may require additional education such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in community health.
• Do community health nurses work in hospitals? While community health nurses primarily work in community settings like public health departments, schools, and clinics, they can also collaborate with hospitals to provide education, preventive care, and continuity of care to patients transitioning from hospital to home.
• Can a community health nurse become a doctor? Community health nurses can certainly pursue further education and career advancement, but the path to becoming a doctor is different. Becoming a doctor requires completing medical school and earning a medical degree (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree, whereas community health nursing involves nursing education and training.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

100+ Healthcare Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative /complementary medicine
• Veterinary medicine
• Physical therapy/ rehab
• Optometry and ophthalmology
• Pharmacy and pharmacology
• Public health
• Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

• The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
• The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
• The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
• The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
• The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
• The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
• The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
• The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
• The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
• The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
• The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
• The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

• The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
• The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
• The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
• The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
• The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
• The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
• The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
• The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
• The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
• The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
• The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
• The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
• The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
• The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

• The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
• The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
• The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
• The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
• The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
• The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
• The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
• The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
• The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
• The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
• The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
• The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
• The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
• The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
• The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Tops & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

• The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
• The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
• The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
• The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
• The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
• The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
• The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
• The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
• The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
• The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
• The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
• The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

• The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
• The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
• The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
• A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
• The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
• The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
• The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
• The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
• The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
• The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
• The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
• The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
• The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

• The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
• The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
• The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
• The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
• The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
• The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
• The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
• The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
• The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
• The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
• The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
• The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
• The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
• The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
• The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

• The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
• The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
• The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
• The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
• The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
• The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
• The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
• The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
• The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• The use of technology in medication management in the USA
• The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
• Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
• The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
• The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
• The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

• The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
• The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
• The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
• The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
• The effects of heat waves on public health
• The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
• The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
• The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
• The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
• The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
• The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
• The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
• The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
• The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
• On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
• Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
• Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
• Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
• When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
• Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
• Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
• Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
• Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
• The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
• Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
• Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your healthcare dissertation or thesis, check out Topic Kickstarter service below.

16 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

I have been racking my brain for a while on what topic will be suitable for my PhD in health informatics. I want a qualitative topic as this is my strong area.

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Acupuncture, nutritional medicine, chiropractic, aromatherapy, safety and efficacy of holistic health, how to find a holistic health practitioner.

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1. gla reduces weight regain in formerly obese humans, 2. massage therapy effective for low back pain, 3. multivitamins decrease risk of heart attack in women, 4. reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis, 5. aromatherapy decreases the severity of menstrual cramps, 6. maca herb reduces postmenopausal blues and sexual dysfunction, 7. reiki boosts immune system and lowers blood pressure, 8. orange scent in dental office reduces anxiety in female patients, 9. shiatsu relieves lower back pain.

10. Creatine Plus Whey Protein Increases Strength & Muscle Mass

11. Irvingia Gabonensis Herb Significantly Decreases Bodyweight

12. swedish massage boosts immunity & decreases inflammation, 13. lavender and rosemary essential oils reduce testing anxiety, 14. detoxification enzymes increased by broccoli, 15. topical retinol (vitamin a) improves fine lines & wrinkles, 16. foods to avoid feeding your pets, 17. antioxidants and efa’s significantly increase longevity of cats, 18. curcumin herb down-regulates breast cancer gene expression, 19. chair massage effective for female office workers.

20. Fragrance Administration Reduces Anxiety During MRI Imaging

21. Frankincense and Myrrh Essential Oils are Antimicrobial

22. chamomile herb relieves skin lesion inflammation and itching, 23. quercetin increases vo2max and endurance capacity, 24. shiatsu improves muscular symptoms, stress & tension, 25. reiki decreases pain and anxiety in cancer patients, 26. topical b3 as effective as clindamycin gel for acne, 27. effect of aromatherapy massage on menopausal symptoms.

Schirmer MA, Phinney SD.

J Nutr.2007 Jun;137(6):1430-5.

Source Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gamma-linolenate (GLA) supplementation would suppress weight regain following major weight loss.

Fifty formerly obese humans were randomized into a double-blind study and given either 890 mg/d of GLA (5 g/d borage oil) or 5 g/d olive oil (controls) for 1 y. Body weight and composition and adipose fatty acids of fasting subjects were assessed at 0, 3, 12, and 33 mo. After 12 subjects in each group had completed 1 y of supplementation, weight regain differed between the GLA (2.17 +/- 1.78 kg) and control (8.78 +/- 2.78 kg) groups (P < 0.03).

The initial study was terminated, and all remaining subjects were assessed over a 6-wk period. Unblinding revealed weight regains of 1.8 +/- 1.6 kg in the GLA group and 7.6 +/- 2.1 kg in controls for the 13 and 17 subjects, respectively, who completed a minimum of 50 wk in the study. Weight regain did not differ in the remaining 10 GLA and 5 control subjects who completed <50 wk in the study. In a follow-up study, a subgroup from both the original GLA (GLA-GLA, n = 9) and the original control (Control-GLA, n = 14) populations either continued or crossed over to GLA supplementation for an additional 21 mo. Interim weight regains between 15 and 33 mo were 6.48 +/- 1.79 kg and 6.04 +/- 2.52 kg for the GLA-GLA and Control-GLA groups, respectively. Adipose triglyceride GLA levels increased 152% (P < 0.0001) in the GLA group at 12 mo, but did not increase further after 33 mo of GLA administration.

In conclusion, GLA reduced weight regain in humans following major weight loss, suggesting a role for essential fatty acids in fuel partitioning in humans prone to obesity.

Cherkin DC , Sherman KJ , , Wellman R , Cook AJ , Johnson E , Erro J , Delaney K , Deyo RA .

Ann Intern Med . 2011 Jul 5;155(1):1-9.

Source Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of 2 types of massage and usual care for chronic back pain.

DESIGN: Parallel-group randomized, controlled trial. Randomization was computer-generated, with centralized allocation concealment. Participants were blinded to massage type but not to assignment to massage versus usual care. Massage therapists were unblinded. The study personnel who assessed outcomes were blinded to treatment assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00371384)

SETTING: An integrated health care delivery system in the Seattle area.

PATIENTS: 401 persons 20 to 65 years of age with nonspecific chronic low back pain.

INTERVENTION: Structural massage (n = 132), relaxation massage (n = 136), or usual care (n = 133).

MEASUREMENTS: Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and symptom bothersomeness scores at 10 weeks (primary outcome) and at 26 and 52 weeks (secondary outcomes). Mean group differences of at least 2 points on the RDQ and at least 1.5 points on the symptom bothersomeness scale were considered clinically meaningful.

RESULTS: The massage groups had similar functional outcomes at 10 weeks. The adjusted mean RDQ score was 2.9 points (95% CI, 1.8 to 4.0 points) lower in the relaxation group and 2.5 points (CI, 1.4 to 3.5 points) lower in the structural massage group than in the usual care group, and adjusted mean symptom bothersomeness scores were 1.7 points (CI, 1.2 to 2.2 points) lower with relaxation massage and 1.4 points (CI, 0.8 to 1.9 points) lower with structural massage. The beneficial effects of relaxation massage on function (but not on symptom reduction) persisted at 52 weeks but were small.

LIMITATION: Participants were not blinded to treatment.

CONCLUSION: Massage therapy may be effective for treatment of chronic back pain, with benefits lasting at least 6 months. No clinically meaningful difference between relaxation and structural massage was observed in terms of relieving disability or symptoms.

Rautiainen S , Akesson A , Levitan EB , Morgenstern R, Mittleman MA , Wolk A .

Am J Clin Nutr . 2010 Nov;92(5):1251-6. Epub 2010 Sep 22.

Source Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the association between multivitamin use and myocardial infarction (MI) in a prospective, population-based cohort of women.

DESIGN: The study included 31,671 women with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 2262 women with a history of CVD aged 49-83 y from Sweden. Women completed a self-administered questionnaire in 1997 regarding dietary supplement use, diet, and lifestyle factors. Multivitamins were estimated to contain nutrients close to recommended daily allowances: vitamin A (0.9 mg), vitamin C (60 mg), vitamin D (5 μg), vitamin E (9 mg), thiamine (1.2 mg), riboflavin (1.4 mg), vitamin B-6 (1.8 mg), vitamin B-12 (3 μg), and folic acid (400 μg).

RESULTS: During an average of 10.2 y of follow-up, 932 MI cases were identified in the CVD-free group and 269 cases in the CVD group. In the CVD-free group, use of multivitamins only, compared with no use of supplements, was associated with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.93). The HR for multivitamin use together with other supplements was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.87). The HR for use of supplements other than multivitamins was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.08). The use of multivitamins for ≥5 y was associated with an HR of 0.59 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.80). In the CVD group, use of multivitamins alone or together with other supplements was not associated with MI.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of multivitamins was inversely associated with MI, especially long-term use among women with no CVD. Further prospective studies with detailed information on the content of preparations and the duration of use are needed to confirm or refute our findings.Reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled study.

A randomized controlled study.

Siev-Ner Ia , Gamus D , Lerner-Geva L , Achiron A .

Mult Scler . 2003 Aug;9(4):356-61.

Source Complementary Medicine Clinic, Department of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of reflexology on symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

METHODS: Seventy-one MS patients were randomized to either study or control group, to receive an 11-week treatment. Reflexology treatment included manual pressure on specific points in the feet and massage of the calf area. The control group received nonspecific massage of the calf area. The intensity of paresthesias, urinary symptoms, muscle strength and spasticity was assessed in a masked fashion at the beginning of the study, after 1.5 months of treatment, end of study and at three months of follow-up.

RESULTS: Fifty-three patients completed this study. Significant improvement in the differences in mean scores of paresthesias (P = 0.01), urinary symptoms (P = 0.03) and spasticity (P = 0.03) was detected in the reflexology group. Improvement with borderline significance was observed in the differences in mean scores of muscle strength between the reflexology group and the controls (P = 0.06). The improvement in the intensity of paresthesias remained significant at three months of follow-up (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary sy00mptoms in MS patients.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

        Han SH, Hur MH, Buckle J, Choi J, Lee MS.

J Altern Complement Med . 2006 Jul-Aug;12(6):535-41.

Source School of Nursing, Wonkwang Public Health College, Iksan, Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of aromatherapy on menstrual cramps and symptoms of dysmenorrhea.

DESIGN: The study was a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

SUBJECTS: The subjects were 67 female college students who rated their menstrual cramps to be greater than 6 on a 10-point visual analogue scale, who had no systemic or reproductive diseases, and who did not use contraceptive drugs.

INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized into three groups: (1) an experimental group (n = 25) who received aromatherapy, (2) a placebo group (n = 20), and (3) a control group (n = 22). Aromatherapy was applied topically to the experimental group in the form of an abdominal massage using two drops of lavender (Lavandula officinalis), one drop of clary sage (Salvia sclarea), and one drop of rose (Rosa centifolia) in 5 cc of almond oil. The placebo group received the same treatment but with almond oil only, and the control group received no treatment.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The menstrual cramps levels was assessed using a visual analogue scale and severity of dysmenorrhea was measured with a verbal multidimensional scoring system.

RESULTS: The menstrual cramps were significantly lowered in the aromatherapy group than in the other two groups at both post-test time points (first and second day of menstruation after treatment). From the multiple regression aromatherapy was found to be associated with the changes in menstrual cramp levels (first day: Beta = -2.48, 95% CI: -3.68 to -1.29, p < 0.001; second day: Beta = -1.97, 95% CI: -3.66 to -0.29, p = 0.02 and the severity of dysmenorrhea (first day: Beta = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.57, p = 0.02; second day: Beta = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.56, p = 0.006) than that found in the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that aromatherapy using topically applied lavender, clary sage, and rose is effective in decreasing the severity of menstrual cramps. Aromatherapy can be offered as part of the nursing care to women experiencing menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea.

Menopause . 2008 Nov-Dec;15(6):1157-62.

Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Brooks NA , Wilcox G , Walker KZ , Ashton JF , Cox MB , Stojanovska L .

Source School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, St. Albans, Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the estrogenic and androgenic activity of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) and its effect on the hormonal profile and symptoms in postmenopausal women.

DESIGN: Fourteen postmenopausal women completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. They received 3.5 g/day of powered Maca for 6 weeks and matching placebo for 6 weeks, in either order, over a total of 12 weeks. At baseline and weeks 6 and 12 blood samples were collected for the measurement of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone-binding globulin, and the women completed the Greene Climacteric Scale to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms. In addition, aqueous and methanolic Maca extracts were tested for androgenic and estrogenic activity using a yeast-based hormone-dependent reporter assay.

RESULTS: No differences were seen in serum concentrations of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone-binding globulin between baseline, Maca treatment, and placebo (P > 0.05). The Greene Climacteric Scale revealed a significant reduction in scores in the areas of psychological symptoms, including the subscales for anxiety and depression and sexual dysfunction after Maca consumption compared with both baseline and placebo (P < 0.05). These findings did not correlate with androgenic or alpha-estrogenic activity present in the Maca as no physiologically significant activity was observed in yeast-based assays employing up to 4 mg/mL Maca extract (equivalent to 200 mg/mL Maca).

CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that Lepidium meyenii (Maca) (3.5 g/d) reduces psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and lowers measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women independent of estrogenic and androgenic activity.

The application of Reiki in nurses diagnosed with Burnout Syndrome has beneficial effects on concentration of salivary IgA and blood pressure. [Article in English, Portuguese, Spanish]

Díaz-Rodríguez L , Arroyo-Morales M , Cantarero-Villanueva I , Férnandez-Lao C , Polley M , Fernández-de-las-Peñas C .

Rev Lat Am Enfermagem . 2011 Sep-Oct;19(5):1132-8.

Source Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Granada, Spain. [email protected]

This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA - an important immune system constituent), α-amylase activity and blood pressure levels after the application of a Reiki session in nurses with Burnout Syndrome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design was conducted to compare the immediate effects of Reiki versus control intervention (Hand-off sham intervention) in nurses with Burnout Syndrome.

Sample was composed of eighteen nurses (aged 34-56 years) with burnout syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a Reiki treatment or a placebo (sham Reiki) treatment, according to the established order in two different days. The ANOVA showed a significant interaction time x intervention for diastolic blood pressure (F=4.92, P=0.04) and sIgA concentration (F=4.71, P=0.04).

A Reiki session can produce an immediate and statistically significant improvement in sIgA concentration and diastolic blood pressure in nurses with Burnout Syn00drome.

Lehrner J , Eckersberger C , Walla P , Pötsch G , Deecke L .

Physiol Behav . 2000 Oct 1-15;71(1-2):83-6.

Source Neurological Clinic, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. [email protected]

Essential oils have been used as remedies for a long time in different cultures across the world. However, scientific proof of such application is scarce.

We included 72 patients between the ages of 22 and 57 while waiting for dental treatment in our study. The participants were assigned to either a control group (14 men, 23 women) or to an odor group (18 men and 17 women).

Ambient odor of orange was diffused in the waiting room through an electrical dispenser in the odor group whereas in the control group no odor was in the air. We assessed by means of self-report demographic and cognitive variables, trait and state anxiety, and current pain, mood, alertness, and calmness.

In this study, we report that exposure to ambient odor of orange has a relaxant effect. Specifically, compared to the controls, women who were exposed to orange odor had a lower level of state anxiety, a more positive mood, and a higher level of calmness. Our data support the previous notion of sedative properties of the natural essential oil of orange (Citrus sinensis).

Brady LH , Henry K , Luth JF 2nd , Casper-Bruett KK .

J Holist Nurs . 2001 Mar;19(1):57-70.

Source Drake University, USA.

Shiatsu, a specific type of massage, was used as an intervention in this study of 66 individuals complaining of lower back pain. Each individual was measured on state/trait anxiety and pain level before and after four shiatsu treatments. Each subject was then called 2 days following each treatment and asked to quantify the level of pain. Both pain and anxiety decreased significantly over time.

Extraneous variables such as gender, age, gender of therapist, length of history with lower back pain, and medications taken for lower back pain did not alter the significant results. These subjects would recommend shiatsu massage for others suffering from lower back pain and indicated the treatments decreased the major inconveniences they experienced with their lower back pain.

10. Creatine Plus Whey Protein Increases Strength & Muscle Mass

Med Sci Sports Exerc . 2007 Feb;39(2):298-307.

Effects of whey isolate, creatine, and resistance training on muscle hypertrophy. Cribb PJ , Williams AD , Stathis CG , Carey MF , Hayes A .

Source Exercise Metabolism Unit, Center for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport and the School of Biomedical Sciences, Victoria University, Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE: Studies that have attributed gains in lean body mass to dietary supplementation during resistance exercise (RE) training have not reported these changes alongside adaptations at the cellular and subcellular levels. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two popular supplements--whey protein (WP) and creatine monohydrate (CrM) (both separately and in combination)--on body composition, muscle strength, fiber-specific hypertrophy (i.e., type I, IIa, IIx), and contractile protein accrual during RE training.

METHODS: In a double-blind randomized protocol, resistance-trained males were matched for strength and placed into one of four groups: creatine/carbohydrate (CrCHO), creatine/whey protein (CrWP), WP only, or carbohydrate only (CHO) (1.5 g x kg(-1) body weight per day). All assessments were completed the week before and after an 11-wk structured, supervised RE program. Assessments included strength (1RM, three exercises), body composition (DEXA), and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies for determination of muscle fiber type (I, IIa, IIx), cross-sectional area (CSA), contractile protein, and creatine (Cr) content.

RESULTS: Supplementation with CrCHO, WP, and CrWP resulted in significantly greater (P < 0.05) 1RM strength improvements (three of three assessments) and muscle hypertrophy compared with CHO. Up to 76% of the strength improvements in the squat could be attributed to hypertrophy of muscle involved in this exercise. However, the hypertrophy responses within these groups varied at the three levels assessed (i.e., changes in lean mass, fiber-specific hypertrophy, and contractile protein content).

CONCLUSIONS: Although WP and/or CrM seem to promote greater strength gains and muscle morphology during RE training, the hypertrophy responses within the groups varied. These differences in skeletal muscle morphology may have important implications for various populations and, therefore, warrant further investigation.

Ngondi JL, Oben JE, Minka SR.

Lipids Health Dis. 2005 May 25;4:12.

Source Nutrition, HIV and Health Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, P.O. Box 812, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon. [email protected]

Dietary fibres are frequently used for the treatment of obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Irvingia gabonensis seeds in the management of obesity. This was carried out as a double blind randomised study involving 40 subjects (mean age 42.4 years).

Twenty-eight subjects received Irvingia gabonensis (IG) (1.05 g three time a day for one month) while 12 were on placebo (P) and the same schedule. During the one-month study period all subjects were on a normocaloric diet evaluated every week by a dietetic record book. At the end, the mean body weight of the IG group was decreased by 5.26 +/- 2.37% (p < 0.0001) and that of the placebo group by 1.32 +/- 0.41% (p < 0.02).

The difference observed between the IG and the placebo groups was significant (p < 0.01). The obese patients under Irvingia gabonensis treatment also had a significant decrease of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and an increase of HDL-cholesterol. On the other hand, the placebo group did not manifest any changes in blood lipid components. Irvingia gabonensis seed may find application in weight lose.

A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. October 2010, 16(10): 1079-1088. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0634.

Published in Volume: 16 Issue 10: October 18, 2010

Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD,1,2 Pamela Schettler, PhD,1 and Catherine Bresee,

Objectives: Massage therapy is a multi–billion dollar industry in the United States with 8.7% of adults receiving at least one massage within the last year; yet, little is known about the physiologic effects of a single session of massage in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of a single session of Swedish massage on neuroendocrine and immune function. It was hypothesized that Swedish Massage Therapy would increase oxytocin (OT) levels, which would lead to a decrease in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activity and enhanced immune function.

Design: The study design was a head-to-head, single-session comparison of Swedish Massage Therapy with a light touch control condition. Serial measurements were performed to determine OT, arginine-vasopressin (AVP), adrenal corticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), circulating phenotypic lymphocytes markers, and mitogen-stimulated cytokine production.

Setting: This research was conducted in an outpatient research unit in an academic medical center.

Subjects: Medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, 18–45 years old, participated in this study.

Intervention: 29 healthy adults received a 45 minute Swedish massage and 24 healthy adults received a 45 minute session of light touch massage, a much milder massage that served as a comparison to the more vigorous Swedish massage.

Outcome measures: The standardized mean difference was calculated between Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch on pre- to postintervention change in levels of OT, AVP, ACTH, CORT, lymphocyte markers, and cytokine levels.

Results: Compared to light touch, Swedish Massage Therapy caused a large effect size decrease in AVP, and a small effect size decrease in CORT, but these findings were not mediated by OT. Massage increased the number of circulating lymphocytes, CD 25+ lymphocytes, CD 56+ lymphocytes, CD4 + lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes (effect sizes from 0.14 to 0.43). Mitogen-stimulated levels of interleukin (IL)–1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ decreased for subjects receiving Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch (effect sizes from −0.22 to −0.63). Swedish Massage Therapy decreased IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 levels relative to baseline measures.

Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy produces measurable biologic effects. If replicated, these findings may have implications for managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

McCaffrey R , Thomas DJ , Kinzelman AO .

Holist Nurs Pract . 2009 Mar-Apr;23(2):88-93.

Source Christine E Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. [email protected]

Test taking in nursing school can produce stress that affects the ability of students to realize their goals of graduation. In this study, the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress in graduate nursing students as evidenced by lower scores on test anxiety measure, personal statements, and pulse rates.

Study Details

This open-label pilot study was conducted at the College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Forty students in the nurse practitioner program were enrolled in the study. The students completed the 10-item Test Anxiety Scale to record their perceived stress and had their blood pressure and pulse measured before and after taking 3 regularly scheduled exams.

No aromatherapy was used during the first exam, which served as the control period. For the second exam, students were given an inhaler containing a piece of cotton saturated with 3 drops of lavender (Lavandula hybrida) essential oil extracted by steam distillation. They were instructed to use the inhaler before starting the exam, to use it as often as desired during the exam, and to record the number of times they used the inhaler. For the third exam, students were given an inhaler containing a piece of cotton saturated with 3 drops of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil with a camphor phenotype and given the same instructions about using the inhaler. T

All 40 students completed the 3 study sessions. Mean scores on the Test Anxiety Scale decreased significantly from pre- to post-test after lavender aromatherapy (P = 0.003) and after rosemary aromatherapy (P = 0.01), indicating a decrease in text anxiety. Anxiety test scores decreased more after rosemary aromatherapy than lavender aromatherapy, but this difference was not statistically significant. There were no significant changes in blood pressure after lavender or rosemary aromatherapy. Mean pulse rates were significantly lower after lavender aromatherapy (P < 0.001) and after rosemary aromatherapy (P = 0.033).

Boddupalli S , Mein JR , Lakkanna S , James DR. Front Genet . 2012;3:7. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Source Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, Monsanto Company Woodland, CA, USA.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables is recognized as an important part of a healthy diet. Increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables in particular has been associated with a decreased risk of several degenerative and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Members of the cruciferous vegetable family, which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage, accumulate significant concentrations of glucosinolates, which are metabolized in vivo to biologically active isothiocyanates (ITCs). The ITC sulforaphane, which is derived from glucoraphanin, has garnered particular interest as an indirect antioxidant due to its extraordinary ability to induce expression of several enzymes via the KEAP1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Nrf2/ARE gene products are typically characterized as Phase II detoxification enzymes and/or antioxidant (AO) enzymes. Over the last decade, human clinical studies have begun to provide in vivo evidence of both Phase II and AO enzyme induction by SF. Many AO enzymes are redox cycling enzymes that maintain redox homeostasis and activity of free radical scavengers such as vitamins A, C, and E.

In this review, we present the existing evidence for induction of PII and AO enzymes by SF, the interactions of SF-induced AO enzymes and proposed maintenance of the essential vitamins A, C, and E, and, finally, the current view of genotypic effects on ITC metabolism and AO enzyme induction and function.

Reza Kafi, MD; Heh Shin R. Kwak, MD; Wendy E. Schumacher, BS; Soyun Cho, MD, PhD; Valerie N. Hanft, MD; Ted A. Hamilton, MS; Anya L. King, MS; Jacqueline D. Neal, BSE; James Varani, PhD; Gary J. Fisher, PhD; John J. Voorhees, MD, FRCP; Sewon Kang, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:606-612.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of topical retinol(vitamin A) in improving the clinical signs of naturally agedskin.

Design Randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, leftand right arm comparison study.

Setting Academic referral center.

Patients The study population comprised 36 elderly subjects(mean age, 87 years), residing in 2 senior citizen facilities.

Intervention Topical 0.4% retinol lotion or its vehiclewas applied at each visit by study personnel to either the rightor the left arm, up to 3 times a week for 24 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures Clinical assessment using a semiquantitativescale (0, none; 9, most severe) and biochemical measurementsfrom skin biopsy specimens obtained from treated areas.

Results After 24 weeks, an intent-to-treat analysis usingthe last-observation-carried-forward method revealed that therewere significant differences between retinol-treated and vehicle-treatedskin for changes in fine wrinkling scores (–1.64 [95%CI, –2.06 to –1.22] vs –0.08 [95% CI, –0.17to 0.01]; P<.001). As measured in a subgroup, retinol treatmentsignificantly increased glycosaminoglycan expression (P = .02[n = 6]) and procollagen I immunostaining (P = .049[n = 4]) compared with vehicle.

Conclusions Topical retinol improves fine wrinkles associatedwith natural aging. Significant induction of glycosaminoglycan,which is known to retain substantial water, and increased collagenproduction are most likely responsible for wrinkle effacement.With greater skin matrix synthesis, retinol-treated aged skinis more likely to withstand skin injury and ulcer formationalong with improved appearance.

Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid feeding your pet. As always, If you suspect your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine

These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestion may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins

Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones

Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but we recommend that you do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!

Carolyn J. Cupp, DVM, MS1

Clementine Jean-Philippe, DVM, PhD2

Wendell W. Kerr, MS1

Avinash R. Patil, BVSc, PhD1

Gerardo Perez-Camargo, PhD, MRCVS2

1Nestlé Purina PetCare Research St. Joseph, Missouri 2Nestlé Purina R&D entre, Amiens Aubigny, France

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether antioxidants, alone or in combination with other nutritional supplements, increase health and longevity in a population of older cats.

A group of 90 cats between the ages of 7 and 17 years was blocked into 3 groups by age, body condition score, and gender. Cats were assigned to 1 of 3 diets: control (basal diet of nutritionally complete cat food), basal diet with added antioxidants (vitamin E and β-carotene), and basal diet with added antioxidants, dried whole chicory root (source of prebiotic), and a blend of supplemental n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. The diets were fed exclusively for the remaining lifetime of each cat.

Physical exams, body condition scores, complete blood count, serum chemistries, plasma fatty acids, serum antioxidant status, fecal microflora, rinalysis, and body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were performed at study initiation and at periodic intervals thereafter.

After 5 years, cats fed the diet with the antioxidants vitamin E and β-carotene, dried chicory root, and a blend of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids lived significantly longer than cats fed the control diet.

Positive indicators of reduced disease incidence and improved intestinal health were also observed.

Kim SR , Park HJ , Bae YH , Ahn SC , Wee HJ , Yun I , Jang HO , Bae MK , Bae SK .

Endocrinology . 2012 Feb;153(2):554-63. Epub 2011 Dec 20.

Source School of Dentistry, Yangsan Campus of Pusan National University, Yangsan, 626-870, South Korea. [email protected].

Obesity is frequently associated with breast cancer. Such associations are possibly mediated by adipokines. Visfatin, an adipokine, has recently been shown to be related to the development and progression of breast cancer. Therefore, the down-regulation of visfatin may be a novel strategy for breast cancer therapy.

Curcumin has anticancer activities by modulating multiple signaling pathways and genes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether visfatin gene expression is affected by curcumin in human breast cancer cells and to characterize the functional role of visfatin in breast cancer.

We found that the mRNA and protein levels of visfatin were down-regulated by curcumin in MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, along with decreased activity of constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-κB. We confirmed the repressive effect of curcumin on visfatin transcription by performing a visfatin promoter-driven reporter assay and identified two putative NF-κB-binding sites on visfatin promoter that are important for this effect. EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated the binding of p65 to the visfatin promoter, which was effectively blocked by curcumin. Enforced expression of p65 protein increased visfatin promoter activity, whereas blocking NF-κB signaling suppressed visfatin gene expression. Visfatin could enhance the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells and also attenuate curcumin-induced inhibition of cell invasion; on the other hand, visfatin knockdown by small interfering RNA led to the reduction of cell invasion.

Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that curcumin down-regulates visfatin gene expression in human breast cancer cells by a mechanism that is, at least in part, NF-κB dependent and suggest that visfatin may contribute to breast cancer cell invasion and link obesity to breast cancer development and progression.

J Altern Complement Med . 2011 Jul;17(7):617-22. Epub 2011 Jun 20.

Videmšek M , Karpljuk D .

Source Institute of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. [email protected]

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of workplace manual technique interventions for female participants on the degree of joint range of motion and on the level of musculoskeletal ache, pain, or discomfort experienced when performing workplace responsibilities.

DESIGN: Nineteen (19) female volunteers were given chair massages on-site twice per week for 1 month.

SETTINGS/LOCATION: Participants included individuals in administration and management from a company in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

SUBJECTS: A total of 19 female volunteers 40-54 years of age enrolled for this study. Fifteen (15) of them completed all measurements.

INTERVENTIONS: The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was used, and range-of-motion measurements in degrees were taken.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects completed a series of self-report questionnaires that asked for information concerning musculoskeletal discomfort for the neck, upper back, and lower back in the form of a body diagram. A range-of-motion test (to compare the change in joint angles) was performed with a goniometer to assess cervical lateral flexion, cervical flexion, cervical extension, lumbar flexion, and lumbar extension.

RESULTS: Between the first and the last measurements, a significant difference (p<0.05) was found in increased range of motion for cervical lateral flexion (28.8%). Wilcoxon signed rank test showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in range of motion for cervical lateral flexion (42.4±6.3 to 48.3±7.3), cervical extension (63.2±12.4 to 67.2±12.3), and a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire values for the neck (2.7±0.8 to 1.9±0.6) and the upper back (2.7±0.7 to 2.2±0.8) from the phase 2 to 3. Significant reductions were also shown in the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire values for the neck (2.8±0.8 to 1.9±0.6) and the upper back (2.7±0.8 to 2.2±0.8) from the phase 1 to 3.

CONCLUSIONS: On-site massage sessions twice per week for 1 month are the most effective interventions (compared to one session or no massage intervention) for decreasing the duration of musculoskeletal ache, pain, or discomfort and for increasing range of motion.

20. Fragrance Administration Reduces Anxiety During MR Imaging

Redd WH, Manne SL, Peters B, Jacobsen PB, Schmidt H. J Magn Reson Imaging. 1994 Jul-Aug;4(4):623-6.

Psychiatry Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.

Fifty-seven outpatients received either heliotropin (a vanillalike scent) with humidified air (n = 20) or humidified air alone (n = 37) via a nasal cannula during magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnostic workup for cancer. Delivery of heliotropin and air was determined by a computer-controlled schedule.

Fragrance administration resulted in a statistically significant reduction in average overall patient-rated anxiety (on a visual analog scale) during imaging in patients who found the fragrance moderately to extremely pleasant.

Administration of fragrance was associated with 63% less anxiety than administration of humidified air alone. Physiologic measures (pulse and heart rate) did not show a statistically significant effect with fragrance administration.

de Rapper S , Van Vuuren SF , Kamatou GP , Viljoen AM , Dagne E .

Lett Appl Microbiol . 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2012.03216.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Source Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of three essential oil samples of Aims: frankincense (Boswellia rivae, B. neglecta, B. papyrifera) and two essential oil samples of myrrh and sweet myrrh (Commiphora guidotti and C. myrrha), collected from different regions of Ethiopia, were investigated independently and in combination to determine their anti-infective properties. The microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 

Assay was performed, whereby it was noted that generally Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC values in the range of 0.8-1.4 mg ml(-1) ) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC values in the range of 0.5-1.3 mg ml(-1) ) often appeared to be the most susceptible micro-organisms against oils of both Boswellia and Commiphora spp. When assayed in various combinations, the frankincense and myrrh oils displayed synergistic, additive and non-interactive properties, with no antagonism noted.

When investigating different ratio combinations against Bacillus cereus, the most favourable combination was between B. papyrifera and C. myrrha. The composition of the oils were determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to document the specific chemotypes used in the study and the chemical profiles were found to be congruent with previously reported data.

Conclusions:

The majority of interactions identified synergistic and additive effects, with strong synergism noted between B. papyrifera with C. myrrha.

Significance and Impact of the Study:

Frankincense and myrrh essential oils have been used in combination since 1500 BC, however, no antimicrobial investigations have been undertaken to confirm their effect in combination. This study validates the enhanced efficacy when used in combination against a selection of pathogens.

Ostomy Wound Manage . 2011 May;57(5):28-36.

Charousaei F , Dabirian A , Mojab F .

Source Islamic Azad University, Abadan, Iran. [email protected]

Peristomal skin complications interfere with stoma appliance use and negatively affect patient quality of life. To find an alternative to long-term peristomal skin treatment involving corticosteroid products, a prospective study was conducted to compare the effect of a German chamomile solution to topical steroids on peristomal skin lesions in colostomy patients.

Persons seeking care for the treatment of a peristomal skin lesion were assigned to a treatment regimen of once-a-day hydrocortisone 1% ointment (n = 36) or twice-a-day chamomile compress (n = 36) application. Treatments were assigned by matching patient demographic, history, and skin condition variables.

At baseline, no significant differences between the variables were observed. Forty-two (42) of the 72 patients were female. Most participants had their stoma for more than 1 year (18.14 months in the chamomile and 17.69 months in the steroid group). Lesions were assessed every 3 days for a maximum of 28 days.

Lesions healed significantly faster in the chamomile than in the hydrocortisone group (mean time to healing 8.89 ± 4.89 and 14.53 ± 7.6 days, respectively; P = 0.001). Stoma patient symptoms (pain and itching) also resolved more expediently in the chamomile than in the hydrocortisone group. Because corticosteroids are nonspecific anti-inflammatory agents, herbal extract use can prevent the side effects of long-term topical corticosteroid use.

The results of this study suggest that German chamomile can be recommended to relieve itching and inflammation and that twice-daily application facilitates healing of peristomal skin lesions. Methods to facilitate the application of topical treatments without interfering with appliance adhesion or necessitating frequent appliance removal should be refined. Additional randomized studies are needed to confirm the results of this study.

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab . 2010 Feb;20(1):56-62.

Davis JM , Carlstedt CJ , Chen S , Carmichael MD , Murphy EA .

Source Div. of Applied Physiology, Dept. of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.

Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid substance present in a variety of food plants, has been shown in vitro and in animal studies to have widespread health and performance benefits resulting from a combination of biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the ability to increase mitochondrial biogenesis. Little is known about these effects in humans, however, especially with respect to exercise performance. The authors determined whether quercetin ingestion would enhance maximal aerobic capacity and delay fatigue during prolonged exercise in healthy but untrained participants.

Twelve volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: (a) 500 mg of quercetin twice daily dissolved in vitamin-enriched Tang or (b) a non-distinguishable placebo (Tang). Baseline VO2max and bike-ride times to fatigue were established. Treatments were administered for a period of 7 days using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design. After treatment both VO2max and ride time to fatigue were determined.

Seven days of quercetin feedings were associated with a modest increase in VO2max (3.9% vs. placebo; p < .05) along with a substantial (13.2%) increase in ride time to fatigue (p < .05).

These data suggest that as little as 7 days of quercetin supplementation can increase endurance without exercise training in untrained participants. These benefits of quercetin may have important implications for enhancement of athletic and military performance. This apparent increase in fitness without exercise training may have implications beyond that of performance enhancement to health promotion and disease prevention.

Andrew F. Long.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. October 2008, 14(8): 921-930. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0085.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore client perceptions of the short-term and longer-term effects of shiatsu.

Design: The study design was a prospective, 6-month observational, pragmatic study.

Setting: There were 85 shiatsu practitioners in three countries involved in the study: Austria, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Subjects: There were 948 clients receiving shiatsu from 1 of these practitioners.

Interventions: Shiatsu as delivered by the practitioner in routine practice.

Outcome measures: The outcomes measures were symptom severity, changes in health care use (baseline, 3 and 6 months), shiatsu-specific effects, uptake of advice (3 and 6 months), achieved expectations and occurrence of adverse events (4–6 days after first session, 3 and 6 months).

Results: Six hundred and thirty-three (633) clients provided full follow-up data (a response rate of 67%). A typical shiatsu user was female, in her 40s, in paid employment, and had used shiatsu before. At “first-ever” use, the most typical reason for trying shiatsu was “out of curiosity.” At “today's” session, the dominant reason was health maintenance. The most mentioned symptom groups were problems with “muscles, joints, or body structure,” “tension/stress,” and “low energy/fatigue.” Symptom scores improved significantly over the 6 months (all symptom groups, Austria and the United Kingdom; two symptom groups, Spain), with moderate effect sizes (0.66–0.77) for “tension or stress” and “body structure problems” (Austria, the United Kingdom), and small effect sizes (0.32–0.47) for the other symptom groups (Spain, 0.28–0.43 for four groups). Previous users reported significant symptom improvement from “first ever” to baseline with moderate effect sizes. Across countries, substantial proportions (≥ 60%) agreed or agreed strongly with shiatsu-specific benefits. At 6 months, 77%–80% indicated that they had made changes to their lifestyle as a result of having shiatsu, and reductions in the use of conventional medicine (16%–22%) and medication (15%–34%). Ten (10) adverse events were reported by 9 clients (1.4%); none of these clients ceased shiatsu.

Conclusions: Clients receiving shiatsu reported improvements in symptom severity and changes in their health-related behaviour that they attributed to their treatment, suggestive of a role for shiatsu in maintaining and enhancing health.

Birocco N , Guillame C , Storto S , Ritorto G , Catino C , Gir N , Balestra L , Tealdi G , Orecchia C , De Vito G , Giaretto L , Donadio M , Bertetto O , Schena M , Ciuffreda L .

Am J Hosp Palliat Care . 2011 Oct 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Source SC Oncologia Medica, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Torino, Italy.

Reiki is a system of natural healing techniques administered by laying of hands and transferring energy from the Reiki practitioner to the recipient. We investigated the role of Reiki in the management of anxiety, pain and global wellness in cancer patients. Building on the results of a pilot project conducted between 2003 and 2005 by a volunteer association at our hospital, a wider, 3-year study was conducted at the same center. The volunteer Reiki practitioners received 2 years of theory and practical training.

The study population was 118 patients (67 women and 51 men; mean age, 55 years) with cancer at any stage and receiving any kind of chemotherapy. Before each session, the nurses collected the patient's personal data and clinical history. Pain and anxiety were evaluated according to a numeric rating scale by the Reiki practitioners. Each session lasted about 30 min; pain and anxiety scores were recorded using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), together with a description of the physical feelings the patients perceived during the session. All 118 patients received at least 1 Reiki treatment (total number, 238). In the subgroup of 22 patients who underwent the full cycle of 4 treatments, the mean VAS anxiety score decreased from 6.77 to 2.28 (P <.000001) and the mean VAS pain score from 4.4 to 2.32 (P = .091).

Overall, the sessions were felt helpful in improving well-being, relaxation, pain relief, sleep quality and reducing anxiety. Offering Reiki therapy in hospitals could respond to patients' physical and emotional needs.

1995 Jun;34(6):434-7

Shalita AR , Smith JG , Parish LC , Sofman MS , Chalker DK. Int J Dermatol .

Department of Dermatology, State University of New York, College of Medicine, Brooklyn, USA.

BACKGROUND:

Systemic and topical antimicrobials are effective in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris; however, widespread use of these agents is becoming increasingly associated with the emergence of resistant pathogens raising concerns about microorganism resistance and highlighting the need for alternative nonantimicrobial agents for the treatment of acne. Nicotinamide gel provides potent antiinflammatory activity without the risk of inducing bacterial resistance.

In our double-blind investigation, the safety and efficacy of topically applied 4% nicotinamide gel was compared to 1% clindamycin gel for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris. Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to apply either 4% nicotinamide gel (n = 38) or 1% clindamycin gel (n = 38) twice daily for 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks using a Physician's Global Evaluation, Acne Lesion Counts, and an Acne Severity Rating.

After 8 weeks, both treatments produced comparable (P = 0.19) beneficial results in the Physician's Global Evaluation of Inflammatory Acne; 82% of the patients treated with nicotinamide gel and 68% treated with clindamycin gel were improved. Both treatments produced statistically similar reductions in acne lesions (papules/pustules; -60%, nicotinamide vs. -43%, clindamycin, P = 0.168), and acne severity (-52% nicotinamide group vs. -38% clindamycin group, P = 0.161).

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate that 4% nicotinamide gel is of comparable efficacy to 1% clindamycin gel in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Because topical clindamycin, like other antimicrobials, is associated with emergence of resistant microorganisms, nicotinamide gel is a desirable alternative treatment for acne vulgaris.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Darsareh F , Taavoni S , Joolaee S , Haghani H .

Menopause . 2012 Apr 30. [Epub ahead of print]

From the 1Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; 2Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine (Tehran University of Medical Sciences), Tehran, Iran; and 3Statistics Department, School of Management and Medical Information and Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Menopause is a significant event in most women's lives because it marks the end of a woman's natural reproductive life. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aromatherapy massage on menopausal symptoms.

A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at a menopausal clinic at a gynecology hospital in Tehran. The study population comprised 90 women who were assigned to an aromatherapy massage group, a placebo massage group, or a control group. Each participant in the aromatherapy massage group received 30-minute aromatherapy treatment sessions twice a week for 4 weeks with aroma oil, whereas participants in the placebo massage group received the same treatment with plain oil. No treatment was provided to participants in the control group. The outcome measures in this study were menopausal symptoms, as obtained through the Menopause Rating Scale.

The mean baseline level of the menopausal score did not differ among all groups. However, after eight sessions of intervention, the Menopause Rating Scale score differed significantly among the three groups (P < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed that women in both the aromatherapy massage group and the placebo massage group had a lower menopausal score than the control group (P < 0.001). When the aromatherapy massage and the placebo massage groups were compared, the menopausal score for the aromatherapy massage group was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.001) than for the placebo group.

The results of the study demonstrate that both massage and aromatherapy massage were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms. However, aromatherapy massage was more effective than only massage.

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• 06 August 2024

Our local research project put us on the global stage — here’s how you can do it, too

• Seyoon Lee 0 ,
• Hanjae Lee 1 ,
• Juhyun Kim 2 &
• Jong-Il Kim 3

Seyoon Lee is a PhD candidate at the Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, and in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Hanjae Lee is a PhD candidate at the Genomic Medicine Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, and in the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Juhyun Kim is a PhD candidate at the Genomic Medicine Institute and in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea.

Jong-Il Kim is director of the Genomic Medicine Institute, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea, and head principal investigator of the SCAID project.

You have full access to this article via your institution.

People travel from across South Korea to receive medical treatment in Seoul. Credit: Will & Deni McIntyre/Getty

Later this year, South Korea is expected to sign up to the European Union’s research-funding programme, Horizon Europe . It’s a good time to reflect on the nature of large collaborative projects — and, in particular, when cross-border collaboration is most beneficial and when a deeper dive into local issues can be more rewarding.

Large international collaborations have unquestionably produced great breakthroughs. Sequencing the human genome , for example, took 13 years of work by 20 institutions in 6 countries 1 . But large consortia such as these are almost always established in the same few countries: the United States, the United Kingdom and others in Europe. For scientists working elsewhere, setting up a large international project can seem unachievable, given the billion-dollar price tags and the networks of contacts required.

And, sometimes, it is not the best solution. Global projects spearheaded in a few countries can have biases — for example, people of Asian descent are often under-represented in international genetic studies initiated in the West. National laws on acquiring data can differ, meaning that researchers need to conduct experiments differently in different regions, introducing biases. And the logistical complexity of coordinating a project across multiple countries in different time zones and with different work cultures can be problematic when rapid data collection and analysis are crucial 2 .

There is an alternative — set up a large local consortium in one nation.

Cancer research needs a better map

We’ve done just that in Seoul. Our single-cell atlas of immune diseases (SCAID) consortium is a multi-institutional effort led by one of us (J.-I.K.), alongside 23 others. Running since April 2022, the project now involves 120 South Korean clinicians, immunologists, geneticists and bioinformaticians (including S.L., H.L. and J.K., who work in J.-I.K’s group).

We aim to map gene expression in millions of individual cells from people who have immune-related diseases , including (but not limited to) rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial lung disease and alopecia areata. Systemic immune diseases are thought to affect at least 1 in 20 people 3 . They are often incurable and cause debilitating symptoms, from chronic skin rashes to skeletomuscular changes. They can be fatal if they are not managed appropriately. We hope that our research will reveal similarities between 16 diverse diseases that manifest across the body, and help to uncover ways to use treatments more effectively.

Our experiences have shown us that a regional consortium can be an efficient way to ask crucial research questions. Here, we share two broad lessons that we hope will help others to build effective regional consortia.

Find a niche

To compete in international circles, local consortia need to focus on addressing research questions that they are in a unique position to answer. This might be because of the particular mix of expertise of local researchers. It might be the regulatory environment in a country. Or it might be specific to the geography of the place where the research is done.

In our case, we were inspired to set up SCAID by an international consortium called the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) . Since 2016, it has been trying to map every single cell type in the human body using state-of-the art genomic technology. The next logical step is to create similar atlases for diseased cells. But this involves bringing in specialized clinicians for each disease and obtaining proper consent from a large number of people.

This can be hard to achieve in a global consortium, in which each country has distinct legislative frameworks, ethics committees and medical systems 4 . For instance, the International HapMap Project — a genome-sequencing project launched in 2002 with researchers from six countries — needed to spend months in community consultation in Nigeria before it was able to obtain ethics approvals 5 . It also faced concerns raised by community advisory groups in Japan and China around depositing biological samples in overseas repositories. Overcoming these obstacles took 18 months 6 .

For these reasons, most single-cell studies of disease data sets have focused on single diseases in single tissues, for simplicity. By contrast, restricting our study to a single country with one legislative framework has made it easier for us to gain ethics and individual approval, allowing us to study multiple diseases across multiple tissues.

Seoul National University Hospital is one of 56 general hospitals in the South Korean capital. Credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty

Seoul also has other benefits for such a project. First, it’s easy to enlist a diverse range of participants in the city. South Korea has a universal medical-insurance system that is mandatory for all residents 7 . This avoids biases that can arise when participants are part of a private health-insurance system. And people from across the country and all socio-economic classes travel to Seoul for treatment — the city’s cluster of 56 general hospitals can be reached from anywhere in South Korea in half a day.

The concentration of hospitals also makes it easy to transfer samples quickly from donors to our central laboratory for analysis — it is no more than two hours’ drive from any hospital. Such proximity is a great advantage in single-cell genomics, because RNA — which is analysed to ascertain gene expression — degrades within hours once a sample is collected. A US National Institutes of Health large-scale genetics project called the Genotype–Tissue Expression project, for instance, found variability in the quality of RNA in its samples, depending on the time between collection and processing. This variability could skew interpretations of gene-expression data, and the researchers had to develop ways to account for it in their analyses 8 .

Having a centralized hub prevents the problem of batch effects — undesired differences between samples — that can arise if samples are processed or analysed differently by different centres 9 , 10 . Handling batch effects is a big task for international consortia. The HCA, for instance, has a dedicated team of researchers to check for and minimize such effects 11 .

Exploiting this niche is already proving fruitful for us. So far, we’ve collected more than 500 samples from 334 donors. We have analysed more than two million cells — equivalent to the second-largest data set collected in the HCA project so far. Our early analysis hints at common features between diseases: although symptoms arise in different organs, we are identifying distinct immune profiles that group the diseases into a few major categories.

Unblock research bottlenecks with non-profit start-ups

Still, being small and nimble comes with challenges. Local consortia need to be aware that they might lack some expertise , and they need to be prepared to seek help. Our consortium faced obstacles in obtaining ethics approvals, because each hospital review board had different requirements and concerns. Getting approval from each board was arduous, and required persistence when asking for opinions of the boards themselves, along with those of the Korea National Institute for Bioethics Policy and Korean Bioinformation Center. Nonetheless, it was easier than grappling with multiple international rules around ethics and data collection.

To make this process smoother for others, it would help for institutions in a country to standardize their ethical-review processes and data-sharing agreements, ensuring that both comply with national regulations. Furthermore, institutions should establish collaborative networks to share best practices and discuss common challenges. These steps could ease the administrative burden on local consortia considerably, and accelerate their progress.

Not all countries will have the strong technical skills of the South Korean workforce, nor the established biobanking repositories for genetic and clinical data, which are essential in projects such as ours. For scientists in countries without this infrastructure, international consortia can be a valuable source of guidance. For instance, the HCA’s Equity Working Group specifically aims to engage diverse geographical and ethnic groups in its projects 12 . By participating in such initiatives, countries can gain access to expertise, resources and best practices, helping them to overcome technical challenges and build their capabilities.

Build in local benefits

Regional projects should reflect the needs of the local community, both for ethical reasons and to attract funding. Funders are more likely to invest in big projects that can benefit citizens. Researchers must make those benefits clear.

This might mean championing a field to governments and other funders. In South Korea, most research funding comes from the government — scientists propose broad topics that need funding, and the government selects those that align with its own goals and puts out funding calls, for which all researchers can apply. So genomicists, immunologists and bioinformaticians — not all of whom are members of the SCAID consortium — requested that the South Korean government fund a large-scale disease single-cell atlas. These scientists spelled out how the data could ultimately help researchers and clinicians to improve understanding of the disease predispositions that are unique to South Koreans. This will hopefully speed up the development of precision medicines tailored to the country’s own population.

South Korean scientists’ outcry over planned R&D budget cuts

In countries that do not have official channels for petitioning the government, raising the profile of a field might involve using networks of contacts to meet with funders, or publishing papers that outline a field’s potential. Persistence is key — scientists must keep voicing their needs and perspectives.

Researchers must also give careful thought to how their project will benefit local science. SCAID was designed to maximize the long-term benefits for the South Korean researchers and clinicians involved.

To develop researchers’ careers, we hold regular seminars and workshops focused on learning skills and network building. Cross-disciplinary collaborations are one focus. For example, bioinformaticians are working with clinicians on a strategy pinpointing the specialized data that should be collected for each disease — such as acquiring information on immune receptors for specific disorders. Bioinformaticians are also exploiting the expertise of clinicians to help interpret their analyses. This includes the identification of abnormal cell states, which can be hard to distinguish from artefacts in the data without a deep knowledge of disease. These networks of contacts will be useful for many projects long after SCAID is completed.

Once established, local consortia need not exist in isolation. They can complement existing global projects by adding diverse data, and can act as stepping stones for future global consortia. For instance, many scientists have approached us, intrigued by the scale and potential of our work, and enquired about possible collaborations.

We are keen for other regional groups to generate international databases from separate efforts led by those who understand their own local needs and niches best. We encourage them to start by seeking funding for a consortium to address the needs of their fellow citizens, and to eventually pool their knowledge.

Whatever the field, if a consortium is run well, it can cultivate a dynamic cluster of competent researchers, laying the groundwork for international recognition and collaboration.

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Reversing the side effects of immunotherapy cancer treatment

When immunotherapy triggers autoimmune and other side effects, a unique clinic is giving patients relief.

Contributing Writer Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

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After months of breast cancer treatment, Julie Wullkotte was accustomed to enduring difficult side effects. But knowing her cancer cells were being destroyed was enough to keep her from complaining.

The burning sensation in her mouth was different.

Her mouth felt on fire whenever she ate anything other than the blandest foods. The slightest addition of garlic, onion or black pepper was like inhaling ghost peppers.

When she lost 15 pounds and complained the pain was affecting her quality of life, Wullkotte was referred to the Immunotherapy Management Clinic at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute ( OSUCCC – James ). The clinic is among the first of its kind in the United States, with a team of experts in rheumatology managing side effects of immunotherapy .

Wullkotte was diagnosed with a Sjögren’s-like syndrome, an autoimmune disease that’s a side effect of her immunotherapy drug. The same treatment that kept her cancer-free was also causing her immune system to attack itself.

With the help of Alexa Meara, MD , a rheumatologist at the OSUCCC – James, Wullkotte got better. “She knew exactly what it was and created a treatment plan to reverse the problem,” Wullkotte says.

Today, she hardly has symptoms. “I can eat Mexican food again, put pepper on my eggs in the morning and brush my teeth without screaming.”

Understanding immunotherapy and related side effects

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment that uses the body’s own natural defense systems to target and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy has quickly become the first line in treating many cancers. For these patients, cancer becomes more like a chronic disease that waxes and wanes.

A side effect of immunotherapy  is that the therapy can cause a patient’s immune system to go haywire. Immunotherapy’s side effects can occur at the time of treatment or even months or years later. Despite these adverse events, immunotherapy’s benefits outweigh the risks.

“You have a subset of patients with a purposely disordered immune system to keep the cancer at bay. However, all you need is some sort of other environmental stimulus, and now you have a new autoimmune disease,” Dr. Meara says.

The more common immunotherapy treatment becomes, the more Dr. Meara sees patients experiencing side effects.

Improving quality of life for cancer patients and survivors

Dr. Meara and her team achieve results people dream about when deciding to become a doctor, such as:

• A patient confined to a wheelchair from severe joint pain can walk again.
• A man with aggressive mouth sores can finally speak and swallow food and liquid again.
• A patient covered in skin rashes heals and regains quality of life.

Inflammation is a common side effect for patients with cancer treated by immunotherapy . As the treatment boosts the immune system to attack cancer cells, this heightened immune response can also target healthy tissues, causing inflammation .

Rheumatologists like Dr. Meara are trained to treat inflammation. “Most people think of rheumatic diseases as joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, but there’s a whole world of autoimmune diseases that have nothing to do with joints,” Dr. Meara says.

For cancer patients who suffer from severe side effects of the immunotherapy drugs that kill cancer, Dr. Meara’s treatment can seem like a miracle. To Dr. Meara, it’s a matter of solving a puzzle. “I developed a reputation by figuring out the rarest of the rare diagnoses. And what’s more complicated than a patient with cancer and then weird autoimmune symptoms?” she says.

Giving immunotherapy patients their lives back

On any given day at the Immunotherapy Management Clinic, Dr. Meara and her team see everything from patients with joints so swollen they can’t walk to those experiencing skin rashes and sores. With the constraint of keeping the patient on the cancer medication, Dr. Meara’s goal is to determine what medication or lifestyle modification will reduce or cure a patient’s symptoms. Each case typically takes some trial and error, but the results can feel like a miracle to patients.

Kara Corps, DVM, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, received immunotherapy for her triple-negative breast cancer and developed rare side effects from the treatment. “I was declared cancer-free in December 2022, but my care is ongoing in the immunotherapy clinic to manage the side effects of the treatment that saved my life. I’m receiving extraordinary care that maintains my quality of life,” she says.

In the year since Mary Caldwell, APRN-CNP, joined the clinic as a nurse practitioner, she says it’s not unusual for patients to get back to feeling like their old selves after first coming to the clinic in wheelchairs due to pain or severe fatigue.

“They tell us they wish they would have found us earlier, but they’re so thankful we’re able to bring them back to their normal level of function,” Caldwell says.

Amanda Logsdon, RN, says Dr. Meara goes above and beyond to figure out the complexities of patients’ symptoms. “They often come here as a last-ditch effort and with significant depression because no one can help them,” Logsdon says.

With the clinic’s help, many patients’ lives are turned around. “It makes me feel so proud to be at her side to help accomplish these goals for the patient,” Logsdon says.

Opening doors to chronic disease research and care

Autoimmune diseases in general can be difficult to diagnose. The advent of immunotherapy means they’re showing up in cancer patients in new ways.

The challenge of treating rheumatology-oncology patients also presents opportunities. For example, Dr. Meara sees patients develop new disorders, like type 1 diabetes, nearly overnight. There are case reports of using some of the drugs designed for rheumatoid arthritis to reverse that. “If we can open the door to inflammation and type 1 diabetes, that could be a game changer,” Dr. Meara says.

As immunotherapy continues to cure more patients’ cancer, there’s still much to learn about how the therapy affects patients’ immune systems, says Dr. Meara. “I think oncology is changing the face of rheumatology and autoimmune diseases in a way that is fundamentally changing the immune system. There’s a whole new world out there, and I think that’s really exciting.”

Specialized treatment for immunotherapy side effects

The James Immunotherapy Management Clinic can help.

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POV: Sexual Pleasure Should Be Integrated into Scientific Research on Sexual Health

Aside from disease prevention, elements of sexual health, including pleasure and orgasm, don’t receive much research funding, limiting what’s known.

Photo via iStock/Prostock-Studio

Julia Bond (SPH’24)

In a splashy piece in 2022, the New York Times detailed what many doctors and medical researchers know, but rarely talk about: we really do not know enough about the clitoris. This component of female anatomy has been routinely overlooked and ignored by the medical establishment, despite its substantial role in sexual pleasure for many people. When asked why, the medical experts interviewed in the piece shared the same sentiment: female sexual pleasure has long been viewed as secondary to male sexual pleasure. Unnecessary, even frivolous. Why, then, would this organ, perceived by many to play no role beyond orgasm, be suitable for serious scientific research? I believe the deep-rooted ignorance of the clitoris is a good example of the consequences of a larger, pervasive problem in the field of medical research: the routine dismissal of sexual pleasure as something worth studying.

This year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest funder of scientific research in the United States, will allocate an estimated $388 million towards the study of sexually transmitted diseases. This is a critical effort, particularly as cases of some sexually transmitted infections have increased in recent years. But the risk of sexually transmitted infections is just one component of sexual health. In 2022, the World Health Organization published an updated definition of sexual health, defining it as more than just the absence of disease. Their definition includes the “possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences.” Elements of sexual health beyond disease prevention, including pleasure, orgasm, or even pain, do not receive much research funding, which limits what is known.

In addition to little funding, sexual health research is also curtailed by scientists themselves. Researchers are impacted by cultural influences. Across different cultures, it is common for sex and sexual pleasure to be considered a taboo topic. Researchers’ discomfort with topics related to sexual pleasure poses real barriers to the meaningful study of sexual health. If someone is uncomfortable even saying the word “orgasm,” how can they effectively research the full range of human sexual experience?

The lack of scientific research focused on the positive elements of sexual behavior, including pleasure and orgasm, has real consequences. Beyond the ignorance of female sexual anatomy, research also suggests that public health programs that incorporate sexual pleasure might work better. Downplaying or ignoring pleasure may result in less successful efforts to promote sexual health. A narrow research focus on the risk of sexually transmitted infections can also obscure other important issues that are deeply relevant to people, including sexual dysfunction, which is estimated to affect 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men in the United States. The stigma against discussing sexual pleasure and pain also pervades medical care. Research shows that people experiencing sexual health issues often do not discuss them with their providers and providers do not routinely ask about them. This contributes to the often years-long wait that many people experiencing chronic pelvic pain conditions, like endometriosis, experience before receiving a diagnosis.

I believe that scientific and medical research that aims to improve sexual health should incorporate a sex-positive lens. By this, I mean taking into consideration the many reasons people may have sex, including interpersonal connection, pleasure, and joy. This is the focus of a recent commentary I published in the American Journal of Epidemiology , alongside Dr. Jessie Ford of Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. We emphasize that sexual pleasure is important to many people, and therefore should be integrated into scientific research on sexual health. This could help public health research be more aligned with people’s lived experiences, in which pleasure and connection are often central to sexual experiences. In an era where humans have gone to the moon, the intricacies of the clitoris should not be a mystery. Scientific researchers have the potential, and, I would argue, the responsibility, to help bring sexual pleasure out of the darkness, and into the light.

Julia Bond (SPH’24), a research associate in epidemiology at Boston Medical Center, can be reached at [email protected] .

“POV” is an opinion page that provides timely commentaries from students, faculty, and staff on a variety of issues: on-campus, local, state, national, or international. Anyone interested in submitting a piece, which should be about 700 words long, should contact John O’Rourke at [email protected] . BU Today reserves the right to reject or edit submissions. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Boston University.

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Julia Bond (SPH’24), a research associate in epidemiology at Boston Medical Center, can be reached at [email protected].

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A Qualitative Approach to Understanding the Holistic Experience of Psychotherapy Among Clients

Lee seng esmond seow.

1 Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore

Rajeswari Sambasivam

Sherilyn chang, mythily subramaniam, huixian sharon lu.

2 Department of Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore

Hanita Ashok Assudani

Chern-yee geoffrey tan.

3 Department of Moods and Anxiety, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore

Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar

Associated data.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Background: The study of the experience of clients across multiple service encounters (or touchpoints) is important from the perspective of service research. Despite the availability of effective psychotherapies, there exists a significant gap in the optimal delivery of such interventions in the community. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experience of psychotherapy among clients integrating the before–during–after service encounters using a qualitative approach.

Methods: A total of 15 clients of outpatient psychotherapy were interviewed, and data saturation was reached. The topics included pathways and reasons to seeking psychotherapy, aspects of the therapy process that have been helpful or unhelpful, and perceived change after receiving psychotherapy. Information was analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis method. Emergent themes pertaining to pre-psychotherapy encounters were mapped onto major components that were identified in Andersen's Health Service Utilization Model.

Results: Mental health stigma and the lack of understanding about psychotherapy were the predisposing factors that impeded service use while the preference for non-pharmacological intervention promoted its use. Enabling factors such as affordability and service availability were also of concern, along with perceived and evaluated needs. The attributes of therapists, application of techniques, and the resistance of the client were found to impact the therapeutic alliance. While the majority of the clients experienced positive change or had engaged in self-help strategies after receiving psychotherapy, some cited limited impact on the recovery of symptoms or problematic self-coping without the therapists.

Conclusion: This study proposes to expand on Andersen's Behavioral Model by including therapy-related factors so as to provide a more holistic understanding of the use of psychotherapy among the clients. More importantly, the study identified several barriers to access and negative experiences or outcomes, which should be addressed to promote uptake of the psychotherapy intervention.

Introduction

The “person-centered” approach to care delivery has been valued as a core part of service design and is necessary to provide a nurturing environment that is respectful, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of the individuals. Understanding the situation of or lived experience of health services by each client has increasingly been recognized as a key element of quality healthcare to improve safety and patient outcomes. For example, patient satisfaction with service or effectiveness of interventions promotes treatment compliance and supports recovery in mental health settings (Katsakou et al., 2010 ; Urben et al., 2015 ).

Psychotherapy, also called “talk therapy,” is a process by which the emotional and mental health-related problems are treated through communication and relationship factors between an individual and a trained mental health professional (Herkov, 2016 ). Despite clear evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy in general (Lambert, 2013b ), about 35–40% of patients experienced no benefit while a small group of 5–10% experienced deterioration in their condition on completing treatment in randomized clinical trials (Hansen et al., 2002 ). In a routine practice where treatments averaged four sessions, the rate of improvement was reported to be only about 20% (Hansen et al., 2002 ). Findings from numerous studies also estimated around 25–50% of patients across diverse treatment settings to “refuse psychotherapy” by failing to return to treatment after initial intake or therapy session (Garfield, 1994 ). The premature termination of sessions has been a problem that hinders the effective delivery of psychotherapeutic treatment as many patients tend not to receive the “adequate dose” of therapy, which is required for them to observe the desired symptomatic relief (Hansen et al., 2002 ; Anderson, 2016 ). Furthermore, such attrition or no-show wastes mental health resources and staff time, denies access to those in need, and limits the ability of organization to serve those in need (Joshi et al., 1986 ). Compared with those who completed treatment courses, those who defaulted are usually less satisfied with services (Lebow, 1982 ). Prior studies have shown that the optimal way to predict treatment outcome is to measure their distress pretreatment (Lambert, 2013a ). The predisposing factors are those that increase his/her inclination to health service use and may include characteristics such as demography (i.e., age and gender), social structure (i.e., education, occupation, ethnicity, social interactions, and network), and health beliefs (Andersen, 1995 ; Andersen and Newman, 2005 ). Quantitative studies have also consistently revealed being female, single or divorced, unemployed, and having a higher education level to be significantly associated with the use of psychotherapy (Olfson and Pincus, 1994 ; Briffault et al., 2008 ; Hundt et al., 2014 ) or the service utilization of mental health (Parslow and Jorm, 2000 ; Roberts et al., 2018 ; Ayele et al., 2020 ).

From the perspective of service research, the experience of the client is conceptualized as a “journey with a service provider over time during the service utilization cycle across multiple touchpoints” (Lemon and Verhoef, 2016 ). Psychotherapy service research has usually focused on understanding, measuring, and optimizing the in-session experience or the treatment process of the client, but what happens leading up to the intervention and after the intervention has received less attention. The narrowed focus on the delivery of the core service itself has prevented service researchers from recognizing the evolving needs of client for a holistic service experience, which spans all potential service encounters (Voorhees et al., 2017 ).

Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap by integrating “pre-therapy,” “during therapy,” and “post-therapy” service encounters to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of the clients of using psychotherapy services. In doing so, we hoped to identify help-seeking pathways, as well as positive and negative experiences or outcomes from the service engagement of client, and to discuss any policy implications with respect to these findings.

Participants, Recruitment, and Setting

This study was conducted among individuals attending outpatient psychotherapy at the Institute of Mental Health, a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Singapore. Participants were recruited using a mix of personal network and purposive sampling. The majority of patients were referred by mental healthcare professionals (e.g., psychologists and clinicians) who provided psychotherapy services in the institute. Posters were also placed in the clinic to inform the clients of the ongoing study with information on the eligibility criteria and the contact of researchers was provided for self-referral by patients. The inclusion criteria were those who were aged 21 years and above, those who were able to provide consent, and those who had attended at least two psychotherapy sessions in the past year. All participants provided written informed consent and were given a token sum for their time upon completion of the study. The approval of the study was obtained from the institutional ethics committee, the Domain Specific Review Board of National Healthcare Group, Singapore (DSRB Ref No: 2018/00870). Interviews and recruitment of new participants continued until the study achieved data saturation, which was determined by the repetition of themes or subthemes (i.e., no new information was evident). A total of 15 participants were therefore enrolled from the period of January–October 2019.

Study Procedures

This interpretative qualitative study was a part of a bigger study that aimed to understand the psychotherapeutic strategies and interventions to improve positive mental health among psychotherapy clients. Participants were first asked to self-complete a short questionnaire to obtain information on the sociodemographic background (e.g., age, gender, education, and occupation) and clinical history (e.g., diagnosis, age of onset, hospitalization, and the number of psychotherapy sessions). In-depth interviews were then conducted by a facilitator (JV or SC) at mutually agreed places using a common interview guide to ensure standardization across the participants. The interview schedule was designed to allow a free exchange in the discussion, guided by the narrative of the participants. Participants were first asked about their background in terms of their family, work, diagnosis, onset, and symptoms, as well as their recent experience with psychotherapy, and were encouraged to describe in detail. Probing questions served as prompts to elicit a richer understanding and were found in the interview guide ( Table 1 ) to ensure that the data collected across the sessions would be as uniform as possible.

Interview guide.

Data Analysis

All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, with transcripts checked for consistency by another team member. NVivo software version 11 was used for the purpose of coding and data processing (QSR International; Computer Software, Australia). The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis that involved discovering, interpreting, and reporting patterns and clusters of meaning within the data (Braun and Clarke, 2006 ). In the first step, all study team members (JV, SC, ES, and RS) independently read a transcript each and employed either descriptive or theoretical codes to index meaningful segments or contents. The next step involved gathering of the team to compare individual analyses, reconcile any differences of perspective, and achieve consensus on the codes and their themes. From this initial inductive coding scheme, a list of preliminary themes was generated based on the summaries and collective interpretation of the coded material. To confirm adequate inter-rater reliability, a codebook was then constructed and all members coded a single new transcript using the codebook as a guide. Cohen's kappa coefficient was established to be 0.83, and team members proceeded to code the remaining transcripts independently. To capture unexpected themes that emerged during the course of reading the remaining transcripts, additional codes were created through open coding. In the final step, all identified themes were progressively integrated into higher-order key themes in relation to the research topic. To differentiate the before–during–after periods of service encounters, we have organized our findings into three distinct sections, namely, pre-, during-, and post-psychotherapy ( Figure 1 ).

Client experience with psychotherapy service utilization.

Thematic Mapping to Conceptual Framework

Our analysis was underpinned by Andersen's Health Service Utilization Model (Andersen, 1995 ), which has been used extensively in studies to understand factors that both promote and undermine the access to healthcare. Findings pertaining to the pre-psychotherapy experience provided support for the model, particularly where emergent themes relating to pathways and reasons to help-seeking could be mapped onto major components identified in the model. Andersen's Behavioral Model defined health service use as an interplay of three distinguished determinants, namely, predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and need factors (Andersen, 1995 ; Andersen and Newman, 2005 ). The predisposing characteristics refer to the sociocultural characteristics of the individuals that exist prior to the development of an illness. The enabling factors represent the logistic aspects of obtaining care such as affordability and availability of resources at the personal, family, and/or community level. Need factors, usually identified as the most immediate cause of health service use, include potential needs for care, perceived and evaluated health, or functional state. We adopted thematic mapping onto an existing framework and discussed themes associated with each determinant to present our findings with respect to the pre-psychotherapy experience.

The ages of participants ranged between 22 and 55 years, with a median age of 32 years. Majority of them were females, Chinese, single, unemployed, completed the education of tertiary and above, stayed in purchased public housing, not hospitalized in the past year, and were without a comorbid physical problem. The number of psychotherapy sessions attended in the past 1 year ranged from 2 to 48 (median = 7.5). Table 2 provides a summary of the profile of clients.

Characteristics of participants.

Pre-psychotherapy

Predisposing factors.

As participants described their pathways or reasons to attend psychotherapy, several personal health-related beliefs and values, as identified by the authors, seemed to form their help-seeking behaviors. These included mental illness-related stigma in healthcare, lack of knowledge about psychotherapy as a treatment option, and preference for non-pharmacological treatment. The quotes representing each factor are presented in Supplementary Table 1 .

Mental Illness-Related Stigma

Participants delayed help-seeking or were initially reluctant to attend psychotherapy session at a psychiatric institution for psychological problems for fear of being discriminated against or due to mental health stigma. The presence of social stigma created barriers to healthcare access and quality care [see Supplementary Table 1 (A1, A2)].

Lack of Knowledge About Psychotherapy

Participants expressed a lack of knowledge about the purpose and processes of psychotherapy. They were either unaware of psychotherapy as a viable option for their problems or unsure about the effectiveness of this treatment in solving their issues. Most participants only became aware and tried out psychotherapy without any expectations because they were being referred by another mental health professional or came to know about it when they read about it online [see Supplementary Table 1 (B1, B2)] .

Preference for Non-pharmacological Treatment

Patients either felt that medications were ineffective for them or were reluctant to embark on taking medications to manage their symptoms due to possible concerns of “addictiveness” or side effects. Therefore, they explored other non-pharmacological options such as psychotherapy as their preferred treatment of symptoms [see Supplementary Table 1 (C1, C2)].

Enabling Factors

The enabling factors explain the factors that facilitate or impede an individual to service use. Participants highlighted several hindrances to the utilization of psychotherapy services despite wanting to try or believe that psychotherapy is effective for them. These included inability to commit, affordability of service, and availability of resources (i.e., facilities and health personnel) in the community. The quotes representing each factor are presented in Supplementary Table 1 .

Inability to Commit

While describing their experience with the utilization of psychotherapy, participants expressed the commitment issue as the main factor for not starting or continuing the therapy. The reasons cited include the lack of time, clash of schedules, inconvenience, or other personal concerns [see Supplementary Table 1 (D1, D2)] .

Affordability Issue

Despite being aware of the availability of psychotherapy services, some participants had concerns about continuing such services for a longer term as they felt it was too expensive. Some chose to engage psychotherapy services from public health providers instead of private sectors that were costlier [see Supplementary Table 1 (E1, E2)].

Service Unavailability

Few participants reported reasons related to the availability of resources, which hindered them from accessing or continuing psychotherapy service. These included the unavailability of psychotherapy tertiary care service offered in the preferred choice of a healthcare institution or the therapist of choice of a patient, as well as long waiting time [see Supplementary Table 1 (F1)].

Need Factors

This study identified both the perceived needs of patients (i.e., psychological symptoms and diagnosis) and the evaluated needs of mental health professionals (i.e., judgment about the health status of patients) as determinants that made participants seek and utilize psychotherapy service. The quotes representing each factor are presented in Supplementary Table 1 .

Self-Perceived Mental Health Needs

The majority (i.e., 13/15) of participants were diagnosed with a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. Participants reported the need to alleviate or cope with their underlying clinical symptoms and, hence, proceeded to seek psychotherapy service. Others felt that they just needed someone to talk to or to get support from due to the multiple psychological and social struggles that they were facing, and few insisted on seeing a psychotherapist despite being told it was not necessary by a health professional. Some participants also mentioned that they stopped going to the sessions when they felt better [see Supplementary Table 1 (G1)].

Professional Evaluation

Those who did not seek psychotherapy on their own were mainly referred to the service after presenting to a mental healthcare professional. They were prescribed psychotherapy by their consulting psychiatrist, during hospitalization or visit to the emergency services. Some participants went into psychotherapy due to their trust in the healthcare professionals or without even knowing what to expect from the service [see Supplementary Table 1 (H1)].

During Psychotherapy

Therapy process.

Themes identified in this component pertain to common in-session experiences of the client and were contributed by the interplay of three broad elements, namely, the psychotherapist, the therapeutic modality, and the client her/himself. Participants also described the aspects of the sessions that were helpful or not helpful in improving their psychological well-being. The quotes representing each factor are presented in Supplementary Table 1 .

The Attributes and Interactions of the Therapist Impact Alliance

Participants described mainly the positive qualities of their psychotherapists: “friendly,” “nice,” “gentle,” “non-judgmental,” “intelligent,” “good,” “concerned,” “well-informed,” “patient,” “attentive,” and “well-read,” with “understanding” being mentioned the most. These personal attributes of therapist appeared to strongly influence therapeutic alliance. The alliance was important to the therapeutic process and was also highly determined by the interaction of therapists with their clients. Understanding, caring, and accepting therapists were deeply valued by clients, while feeling unheard, misunderstood, and unappreciated challenged the alliance [see Supplementary Table 1 (I1, I2)].

The Application of Techniques by the Therapist Facilitates Alliance

Besides the personal attributes and communication skills of therapists, the significance of the expertise and modality of the therapist cannot be undermined and was also identified as important to therapeutic alliance and psychotherapy process. Most participants mentioned that they felt that their therapists were able to listen to them, understand them, and offer them good advice. A range of other specific techniques and strategies applied by the therapists during the in-session activities were also found to facilitate clients in identifying, viewing, and solving problems ( Supplementary Table 2 ).

Match of Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities With the Preference of Clients

Evidence-based psychotherapy interventions were employed through either a single, integrative, or eclectic approach by therapists to match treatment to the individual and his/her psychiatric conditions. The commonly utilized forms of the evidence-based therapies based on the reports of participants were cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, while others included eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), group therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP), schema therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic therapy. While the majority found the assigned therapeutic approach helpful, others seemed to have their preferences and did not find certain intervention types to be helpful to them [see Supplementary Table 1 (J1, J2)].

Resistance of the Client in Psychotherapy

Despite the best efforts of psychotherapists, some clients failed to act in their best interests and engage fully in the therapeutic process. Such resistance impeded the motivation of the client and also interfered in treatment efficacy. Some participants were found to be reluctant to open up or discuss certain topics that were intrusive and distressing, particularly during the initial sessions or when therapists were new. Attending the sessions unprepared and unfocused was also a concern [see Supplementary Table 1 (K1)].

In addition, the success of the client in therapeutic outcome is usually dependent on doing homework or practicing strategies taught by the psychotherapist between sessions, in this study, the lack of motivation or effort led to non-compliance among few participants. They may have been either willing but were unable to complete the assigned task due to its length or difficulty, or simply unwilling to take it up at all [see Supplementary Table 1 (K2)].

Client Unaware of Treatment Plan

When asked about the kind of intervention they received or were receiving, some participants stated that they did not know the specific name of the therapy and that they were simply following through the therapy. While there was generally no complaint among these participants, few did express some unmet needs [see Supplementary Table 1 (L1, L2)].

Post-psychotherapy

Therapeutic outcomes.

Several themes were identified in this section when participants described the perceived change in them from receiving psychotherapy. These were the reflections of the service efficacy and effectiveness or, in other words, therapeutic outcomes, which varied among participants. They included positive changes following therapy, sense of recovery not due to therapy, continued use of self-supporting strategies or online resources outside therapy, and problem coping or managing symptoms without therapist support. The quotes representing each factor are presented in Supplementary Table 1 .

Positive Change Following Therapy

All the participants noted the beneficial effects of psychotherapy and experienced positive changes to varying extents. These improvements could be in the form of reduction in symptom severity or suicidal tendency, higher psychological well-being such as confidence and self-esteem, acquisition of better coping skills, or simply feeling better and supported after talk therapy [see Supplementary Table 1 (M1, M2)].

Recovery Beyond Effects of Therapy

Several participants cited that psychotherapy has its own limitations and could only help them to a certain degree. The previously experienced symptoms and struggles of clients improved as a result of the influence of events occurring outside of therapy or when the underlying issue got addressed but not due to the therapy. Others felt that their self-healing capacity or the intrinsic self is, if not more, important than the intervention itself for recovery [see Supplementary Table 1 (N1, N2)].

Engagement of Self-Supporting Strategies Outside Therapy

Therapists routinely imparted coping strategies and recommended online resources to their patients as part of their effort to integrate self-help into psychotherapy. Most clients cited the continued use of these self-supporting techniques and tools during waiting and maintenance stages. Participants described how these have helped them to cope with struggles or manage their symptoms effectively on their own when required at home or work [see Supplementary Table 1 (O1, O2)].

Problematic Coping in Absence of Therapist Support

Participants reported some form of reliance on their therapist during treatment phase. They expressed that they were unable to manage things on their own when they halted service after prolonged treatment or when they left the therapy room. Few participants had to resume psychotherapy despite having completed a previous course of treatment as they really needed someone to support them, with one even demanding for the same therapist [see Supplementary Table 1 (P1, P2)].

This study was a comprehensive study of the experience of clients with the service utilization of psychotherapy beginning from the pathway to care, followed by the therapy process, and lastly, response to therapy. Through in-depth interviews and qualitative analysis, the study derived themes associated with each phase of the service utilization of psychotherapy.

Pathways and Reasons to Psychotherapy

Different reasons (i.e., indirect and direct) and obstacles to service access underlined themes identified in the pre-therapy stage and were found to complement the three factors, namely, predisposing, enabling, and need factors that were highlighted in Andersen's Healthcare Utilization Model (Andersen, 1995 ).

Studies have quantified and compared the strength of associations among the predisposing, enabling, and need factors with the use of psychotherapy. In a well-informed population with a high-quality insurance cover (i.e., low enabling factors), the use of psychotherapy was primarily associated with the clinical condition (i.e., need factors) rather than the sociodemographic status (i.e., predisposing factors) (Briffault et al., 2008 ). Hundt et al. found that predisposing and need factors were linked to the onset of the use of psychotherapy while enabling and need factors were linked to higher level use, and they also demonstrated that need factors were most strongly associated with the use of psychotherapy in veterans (Hundt et al., 2014 ). Findings from our study suggest that the predisposing factors such as mental health stigma and the lack of awareness of psychotherapy were significant barriers to the initial access of psychotherapy, but once overcome, these factors did not appear to influence the frequency of use. The enabling factors such as the lack of time, high treatment cost, and long wait time for the preferred therapist mainly impeded the increased or prolonged use of psychotherapy but did not affect the earlier decision of participants to embark on psychotherapy. In terms of need factors, mental health symptoms and struggles were cited when asked for the main concern for attending psychotherapy. Perceived recovery or the absence of health needs, as evidenced from the post-therapy experience, was also related to the discontinued engagement of psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy Process and Therapeutic Outcomes

The experience of clients through the in-session activities and the therapy outcomes underlined themes in the during- and after-therapy stages, respectively. A large number of studies have been conducted into the process and outcome of psychotherapy from various lenses, with a substantial body of qualitative research focusing on the perspective of clients (Timulak, 2010 ; Timulak and McElvaney, 2013 ; Levitt et al., 2016 ). The study of the experience of therapy of the clients improves our understanding of the therapeutic process by shifting focus from the techniques, actions, and competencies of the therapists to include feelings, values, and attributes of the clients (Macran et al., 1999 ). A thematic review by Timulak revealed that, while clients valued factors relating to the client–therapist alliance during therapy, therapists were perceived to focus more on therapeutic gains (Timulak, 2010 ). Bachelor ( 2013 ) also found the views of the therapeutic alliance and therapeutic work between clients and therapists to differ such that, compared with therapists, clients tend to place greater emphasis on helpfulness, joint participation in therapy work, and negative signs of the alliance. The personal attributes (e.g., respectful, friendly, experienced, interested, open, warm, etc.) and the use of therapeutic techniques (e.g., supportive, understanding, exploration, reflection, accurate interpretation, affirming, etc.) of the therapist from a range of psychotherapy orientations were found to positively influence the development and maintenance of therapeutic alliance (Ackerman and Hilsenroth, 2003 ).

In fact, the findings from our study with respect to the “during service” period were consistent with the literature. First, some of the emergent themes (e.g., alliance between therapist and client, match between treatment modality and preference of client) involved various combinations of the three main aspects of psychotherapy, namely, client, therapist, and treatment modality, and did not involve only factors relating to the therapist or intervention alone. Second, the recollection of participants on the therapy process concentrated on how a range of characteristics and techniques of therapists similar to those described by Ackerman and Hilsenroth (Ackerman and Hilsenroth, 2003 ) was helpful to them and led to the positive therapeutic alliance, as well as on how the miscommunication of therapists ruined the alliance.

Therapeutic alliance essentially captures the interactive process between the client and the therapist and has been identified as the key variable in negotiating change or a reliable predictor of positive clinical outcomes in psychotherapy (Ackerman and Hilsenroth, 2003 ; Ardito and Rabellino, 2011 ). Besides therapeutic alliance, research into the effectiveness of therapy typically found other factors such as empathy, goal consensus and collaboration, the experience of therapists, therapy modality, and the level of motivation of the client to influence successful psychotherapy outcomes (Lynch, 2012 ; Wampold and Imel, 2015 ), all of which were consistent to the findings in our study. Previous studies on therapy outcomes were divided. The description of “good outcomes” among patients was found to cluster around four themes as follows: establishing new ways of relating to others, less symptomatic distress or change in behavioral patterns contributing to suffering, better self-understanding and insight, and accepting and valuing oneself (Binder et al., 2010 ). Other patients however, described themselves as not having improved through therapy and that therapy had not met their expectations (Radcliffe et al., 2018 ). All of our participants acknowledged some gains or positive changes, although few found therapy to have limited effectiveness and may not lead to full recovery.

Apart from the perspectives of clients, recent literature has reported that weekly therapy sessions appear to increase the rate of improvement compared with less frequent sessions although we have to keep in mind that this may vary according to setting, clinical population, and outcome measures (Robinson et al., 2020 ). On the contrary, studies have also reported that the number of psychotherapy sessions has less association with the therapeutic outcome (King, 2015 ; Flückiger et al., 2020 ). In our study, we did not examine this factor specifically, but it was observed that our participants who have had more sessions tended to report improvement. The effectiveness of the sessions was also reported by those who have had less than five sessions. We could have probably observed the expected trend with a larger sample.

Expansion to Andersen's Behavioral Model

Besides the numerous predisposing, enabling, and need factors as highlighted in Andersen's Behavioral Model, we also identified an additional component, i.e., service-related factors that we deemed to be important in understanding factors associated with the service utilization of psychotherapy ( Figure 2 ). For example, clients' in-session and post-therapy experience may also impede or facilitate their decision to continue or complete treatment based on their account. Environmental obstacles, dissatisfaction with service, and lack of motivation for therapy were found to be the three most common reasons for premature termination of service (Anderson, 2016 ). Andersen proposed that the model offers flexibility in understanding health behaviors and researchers could add more factors to the original model, without disrupting its original structure to fit the purpose and nature of their research (Andersen, 1995 ). We have therefore proposed an expanded framework for the initial and continued use of psychotherapy service that incorporated the four abovementioned factors (i.e., predisposing, enabling, needs, and service-related factors) ( Figure 2 ). The revised model also proposes the use of psychotherapy service to be a function of determinants due to both the client and the therapist. One limitation, however, will be the exclusion of components related to the health service policy and the healthcare system, which have been recognized as a criticism of the original Andersen's model (Andersen, 1995 ).

Proposed expanded framework for psychotherapy help-seeking behavior adapted from Andersen's Health Utilization Model.

Limitations of Study

There were several limitations in our study. First, as patients recruited for this study were mainly referred by their consulting therapists, they may not be open to discuss about the negative experiences they had with their therapists for fear that their therapists may learn about it despite being informed about the confidentiality and de-identification of the interview content. Second, the authors were unable to identify the distribution of the themes in the interviews as clients spent more time talking about what they found beneficial and not. Finally, the study was conducted among psychiatric patients attending psychotherapy in a discretionary health service (i.e., outpatient hospital service) setting, and hence, findings may not be generalized to all forms of psychotherapy services. Further studies are warranted to provide evidence for the proposed framework for the utilization of psychotherapy.

This qualitative study may be the first to have obtained the in-depth experiences of psychotherapy of clients in Singapore, which enabled an evaluation of narratives from three phases, namely, pre-, during- and post-service encounters. The themes identified at the various stages concurred with those reported in other qualitative or quantitative studies. The study also expanded on Andersen's Health Service Utilization Model and proposed a promising framework to understand health behaviors and utilization relating to psychotherapy service. It also provides actionable information to address identified barriers to access and negative experiences or outcomes due to psychotherapy.

Data Availability Statement

Ethics statement.

This study involving human participants were reviewed and approved by National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author Contributions

LSES and RS were involved in the conceptualization, data analysis, and drafted the manuscript. JV wrote up the protocol of the main study. SC and JV conducted the interviews. SC, RS, and LSES transcribed the audio files. LSES, RS, JV, and SC were involved in the coding process. MS was consulted for study design. HL, HA, and C-YT gave valuable inputs for the study and provided referrals for the interviews. All authors provided intellectual inputs and have approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Funding. This study was supported by the National Medical Research Council under the Center Grant Program (NMRC/CG/M002/2017).

Supplementary Material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.667303/full#supplementary-material

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Researchers enhance natural killer cells to target pediatric brain cancer

by Bill Wellock, Florida State University

Florida State University researchers are giving oncologists another tool in their fight against pediatric brain cancer.

In work published in Bioactive Materials , a research team led by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Qing-Xiang "Amy" Sang showed the possibility of enhancing natural killer immune cells to improve their ability to attack a rare pediatric brain cancer.

"Natural killer cells are the policemen of the body," Sang said. "They patrol the body and recognize viruses, bacteria and other pathogens, as well as cancer cells. Our goal is to enhance both the quantity and quality of these cells, making them more potent in their ability to combat cancer."

Natural killer cells can target all types of cancer, and previous research has examined their effectiveness as a therapy. But this is the first study to test the ability of natural killer cells to destroy a specific variety of cancer known as a malignant rhabdoid tumor.

When this tumor appears in the central nervous system, it is called an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). Although it is a rare disease , it accounts for 20% of all central nervous system tumors in children younger than 3.

"It's a major unmet clinical need," Sang said. "We still don't have a standard, optimized therapy for children with cancer, especially children with brain cancer."

Natural killer cells are a critical part of the human immune system, but they can be overwhelmed by cancer cells . Sang's research team wanted to see if they could help the fight against this disease and develop a treatment with fewer side effects than traditional approaches such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

The researchers derived natural killer cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells—cells from skin or blood that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like state, allowing them to develop into any type of human cell. Unlike feeder cells from mice, which are typically used in similar studies, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer cells don't pose a risk of rejection by a patient's immune system.

They also enhanced the immune quality of those cells by using different proteins to stimulate them to have a stronger killing power.

Although more work is needed to develop a ready-to-use therapy for cancer patients , the research shows that natural killer cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells could be the basis for future medicines to treat pediatric brain tumors.

"These findings pave the way for developing a safer and more effective immunotherapy for children with brain cancer," Sang said.

Co-authors on this work were graduate researchers Sonia Kiran, Yu Xue and Drishty Badhon Sarker in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Yan Li, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

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ADHD symptoms in autistic children linked to neighborhood conditions

Study finds poverty, lack of services may play a role.

Autistic youth who were born in underserved neighborhoods are more likely to have greater attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms than those born in communities with more resources. This is one finding of a new study led by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute .  

This is the first time researchers have investigated how neighborhood factors are associated with ADHD in autistic and non-autistic children. The study provides new insights into mental health conditions and has the potential to inform public policy changes to improve health equity.

It was published in the journal JCPP Advances.

“We found that some neighborhood factors are strongly related to ADHD symptoms in autistic children,” said Catrina Calub, the first author on the paper. Calub is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Julie Schweitzer , a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the MIND Institute.

“In this study, we didn't find this effect in typically developing kids or in kids with other developmental disabilities, only in the autistic children. It suggests that when autistic kids live in neighborhoods with fewer resources, they tend to have more pronounced ADHD symptoms,” Calub said.

We found that some neighborhood factors are strongly related to ADHD symptoms in autistic children … It suggests that when autistic kids live in neighborhoods with fewer resources, they tend to have more pronounced ADHD symptoms.” — Catrina Calub, postdoctoral researcher, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

ADHD symptoms can include higher rates of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.It is associated with:

• Challenges in school performance and relationships with friends
• Lower self-esteem and greater risk for anxiety and depression
• Higher potential for substance use disorders and accidents
• Emotional dysregulation and conduct problems

Study expands findings from long-term research

The researchers used data from two studies: the decades-long Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment ( CHARGE ) study led by Irva Hertz-Picciotto at the MIND Institute and the ReCHARGE follow-up project.

CHARGE and ReCHARGE assess how genetics, environment and other factors affect development from early childhood (2–5 years) through adolescence (8-20 years).  

The team looked at 246 autistic children, 85 with developmental delays (without autism), and 193 who were neurotypical. Then, they applied the Child Opportunity Index, which uses census data to track over 30 neighborhood traits. These traits include socioeconomics, green space, single-parent households and concentration of early childhood education centers.

The index encompasses three domains: education, health and environment, and social and economic resources. Higher scores are linked to better childhood health. Of the three domains, the education and social and economic resources scores were most strongly related to ADHD symptoms.

The analysis showed the Child Opportunity Index scores at birth were a strong predictor for ADHD symptoms in adolescence in the autistic children but not in the other groups. Calub noted that the finding was unexpected.

“These results are quite concerning,” Calub said. “Those with both autism and ADHD are already more likely to have additional challenges — behaviorally, cognitively, emotionally and socially. Being born in a low-income neighborhood puts them at an even greater disadvantage. This just adds to the evidence that more resources are needed for underserved areas and specifically for those who have conditions like autism.”

ADHD is highly prevalent in the general population and is common in autistic youth. If we can find ways to increase resources in these neighborhoods, we have the potential to improve academic, social, mental and physical health outcomes, particularly for autistic youth, and also decrease long-term economic costs.” — Julie Schweitzer, professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

The need for a larger, more diverse sample

Calub pointed out that more research is needed to determine if the results would apply to a larger group.

"It will be important for future studies to be larger and more diverse. That should help us learn whether neighborhood conditions might also influence ADHD symptoms in other groups such as youth without autism, or in Black, Asian and Native American individuals, who were under-represented in our sample," Calub added.

These findings also offer clues for how to target preventive strategies to reduce the risk of increased ADHD symptoms, noted Schweitzer, who was also a co-author on the study.

“ADHD is highly prevalent in the general population and is common in autistic youth. If we can find ways to increase resources in these neighborhoods, we have the potential to improve academic, social, mental and physical health outcomes, particularly for autistic youth, and also decrease long-term economic costs,” Schweitzer explained.

Calub and Schweizer believe the study’s findings should encourage policymakers to provide more resources for underserved communities. In addition, they hope including the Child Opportunity Index and other neighborhood metrics could provide new insights into future studies to inform policy.

Co-authors on the study include Irva Hertz-Picciotto and Deborah Bennett , both in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UC Davis. Read the full study.

The UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif. is a unique, interdisciplinary research, clinical, and education center committed to deepening scientific understanding of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is a highly collaborative center, bringing together families, researchers, clinicians, community leaders and volunteers with the common goal of developing more personalized, equitable, and scientifically proven systems of support and intervention. The institute has major research efforts in autism, fragile X syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Down syndrome. More information about the institute and its Distinguished Lecturer Series, including previous presentations in this series, is available on the Web at mindinstitute.ucdavis.edu .

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