Integrative medicine includes those healing systems known as "traditional procedure-based therapies." These systems can have a positive effect on your Quality of Life (QOL) which is the goal of integrative medicine. Use the "issue" list below to help you focus on those areas that need supportive attention.
General Guidelines for Methodologies on Research and Evaluation of Traditional MedicineWorld Health Organization Geneva
"2.1 Types of traditional procedure-based therapies Traditional procedure-based therapies are therapies that use various techniques, primarily without the use of medication, to provide health care. They include, for example, acupuncture and related techniques, osteopathy, manual therapies, qigong, tai ji, yoga, naturopathy, thermal medicine, and other physical, mental, spiritual and mind–body therapies. In general, traditional procedure-based therapies are relatively safe if they are performed properly by well-trained practitioners. The efficacy of most forms of traditional procedure-based therapies depends heavily upon the proficiency of the practitioners, including their skills and experience. "
Overall Quality of Life and Health Issues: 1. Pain and discomfort This explores unpleasant physical sensations experienced by a person and, the extent to which these sensations are distressing and interfere with life. It is acknowledged that people respond to pain differently, and differing tolerance and acceptance of pain is likely to affect its impact on quality of life. Pain is judged to be present if a person reports it to be so, even if there is no medical reason to account for it. This explores the energy, enthusiasm and endurance that a person has in order to perform the necessary tasks of daily living as well as other chosen activities such as recreation. This may extend from reports of disabling tiredness to adequate levels of energy, to feeling really alive.
3. Sleep and rest This concerns how much sleep and rest, and problems in this area, affect the person’s quality of life. Sleep problems might include difficulty going to sleep, waking up during the night, waking up early in the morning and being unable to go back to sleep and lack of refreshment from sleep.
4. Positive feelings This examines how much a person experiences positive feelings of contentment, balance, peace, happiness, hopefulness, joy and enjoyment of the good things in life. A person’s view of, and feelings about the future are seen as an important part of this facet.
5. Thinking, learning, memory and concentration This explores a person’s view of his/her thinking, learning, memory, concentration and ability to make decisions. This incorporates the speed of thinking and clarity of thought.
6. Self-esteem This examines how people feel about themselves. This might range from feeling positive about themselves to feeling extremely negative about themselves. A sense of worth as a person is (extremely significant).To some people self-esteem depends largely on how they function, whether at work, at home or how they are perceived and treated by others. In some cultures self-esteem is the esteem felt within the family rather than individual self-esteem.
7. Body image and appearance This examines the person’s view of his/her body. Whether the appearance of the body is seen in a positive or negative way is included ..The focus is on the person’s satisfaction with the way he/she looks and the effect it has on his/her self-concept. This includes the extent to which “perceived” or actual bodily impairments, if present, can be corrected (e.g. by make-up, clothing, artificial limbs, etc.).
8. Negative feelings This concerns how much a person experiences negative feelings, including despondency, guilt, sadness, tearfulness, despair, nervousness, anxiety and a lack of pleasure in life. The facet includes a consideration of how distressing any negative feelings are and their impact on the person’s day-to-day functioning.
9. Mobility This examines the person’s view of his/her ability to get from one place to another, to move around the home, move around the work place, or to and from transportation services. The focus is on the person’s general ability to go wherever he/she wants to go without the help of others regardless of the means used to do so.
10. Activities of daily living The explores a person’s ability to perform usual daily living activities. This includes self-care and caring appropriately for property. The focus is on a person’s ability to carry out activities, which he/she is likely to need to perform on a day-to-day basis. The degree to which people are dependent on others to help them in their daily activities is also likely to affect their quality of life.
11. Working capacity This examines a person’s use of his or her energy for work. “Work” is defined as any major activity in which the person is engaged. Major activities might include paid work, unpaid work, voluntary community work, full-time study, care of children and household duties.
12. Personal relationships This examines the extent to which people feel the companionship, love and support they desire from the intimate relationship(s) in their life. This facet also addresses commitment to and current experience of caring for and providing for other people. This facet includes the ability and opportunity to love, to be loved and to be intimate with others both emotionally and physically
13. Social support This facet examines how much a person feels the commitment, approval and availability of practical assistance from family and friends. Also focus is on how much the person feels he/she has the support of family and friends, in particular to what extent he/she might depend on this support in a crisis.
14. Sexual activity This concerns a person’s urge and desire for sex, and the extent to which the person is able to express and enjoy his/her sexual desire appropriately. Sexual activity and intimacy are for many people intertwined.
15. Physical safety and security This examines the person’s sense of safety and security from physical harm. A threat to safety or security might arise from any source such as other people or political oppression. As such this facet is likely to bear directly on the person’s sense of freedom.
16. Financial resources The explores the person’s view of how his/her financial resources (and other exchangeable resources) and the extent to which these resources meet the needs for a healthy and comfortable life style. The focus is on what the person can afford or cannot afford which might affect quality of life. 17. Opportunities for acquiring new information and skills This examines a person’s opportunity and desire to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge, and feel in touch with what is going on. This might be through formal education programs, or through adult education classes or through recreational activities, either in groups or alone. 18. Spirituality/religion/personal beliefs This examines the person’s personal beliefs and how these affect quality of life. This might be by helping the person cope with difficulties in his/her life, giving structure to experience, ascribing meaning to spiritual and personal questions, and more generally providing the person with a sense of well-being. |
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