Self-Administered Mind-Body Practices for Reducing Health Disparities: An Interprofessional Opinion and Call to Action.

Patricia A Kinser,Jo Lynne W Robins,Saba W Masho

doi:10.1155/2016/2156969

Abstract

Health disparities (HD) continue to persist in the United States which underscores the importance of using low-cost, accessible, evidence-based strategies that can improve health outcomes, especially for chronic conditions that are prevalent among underserved minority populations. Complementary/integrative health modalities, particularly self-administered mind-body practices (MBP), can be extremely useful in reducing HD because they are intrinsically patient-centered and they empower patients to actively engage in self-care of health and self-management of symptoms. Interprofessional healthcare providers and patients can engage in powerful partnerships that encompass self-administered MBP to improve health. This is a call to action for interprofessional researchers to engage in high-quality research regarding efficacy and cost-effectiveness of self-administered MBP, for practitioners to engage patients in self-administered MBP for health promotion, disease prevention, and symptom management, and for healthcare institutions to integrate self-administered MBP into conventional health practices to reduce HD in their communities.

Highlights

Racial/ethnic health disparities (HD) or inequalities in access to healthcare and in quality of healthcare are well documented across a range of health conditions, services, and settings in the United States [1]
We propose that self-administered mind-body practices (MBP) therapies can be useful in reducing HD and call interprofessional providers and researchers to engage in this important area of research and practice
Continued HD in the United States underscore the significance of encouraging the use of simple, low-cost, highly accessible, evidence-based strategies that can improve health outcomes, for health promotion and prevention of chronic conditions that are prevalent among underserved minority populations

Summary

Introduction

Racial/ethnic health disparities (HD) or inequalities in access to healthcare and in quality of healthcare are well documented across a range of health conditions, services, and settings in the United States [1]. We propose an interprofessional multilevel solution based on the integration of complementary health practices into conventional health settings, the teaching and recommending of self-administered MBP by healthcare providers to patients with the goal of enhancing stress resilience and improving health. The goal of this paper is to describe the current use of complementary/integrative approaches in the United States, to discuss how MBP can be based upon patient-centered interprofessional collaboration, and to propose that self-administered MBP may be powerful tool for addressing provider level factors (e.g., enhancing patient-provider partnerships) and system-level factors (e.g., addressing limitations in healthcare access) to reduce HD in racial/ethnic minority populations [2]. NHIS data suggest that non-Hispanic White adults are more likely to choose complementary approaches which are provider-based, such as chiropractic manipulation, massage, and acupuncture, whereas non-White adults are more likely to choose self-administered therapies, such as relaxation practices, yoga, meditation, and tai chi [10]

Interprofessional Approach

Self-Administered MBP

Findings

Summary