Evaluating a complementary therapies clinic: Outcomes and relationships

Abstract Background There are few published examples of research examining the effect of massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology in clinic settings. In addition to measuring treatment outcomes, it may also be important to measure the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist and as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2010-02, Vol.16 (1), p.31-35
Main Authors: Harris, Philip, Atkins, Rhian C, Alwyn, Tina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aromatherapy
Clinical outcomes
Clinics
Community Health Services
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Massage
Medical Education
Middle Aged
Nursing
Patient Satisfaction
Physician-Patient Relations
Quality of Life
Reflexology
Therapeutic relationship
Therapist-Client relationships
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background There are few published examples of research examining the effect of massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology in clinic settings. In addition to measuring treatment outcomes, it may also be important to measure the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist and assess its contribution to outcomes. Aims To evaluate perceived changes in client quality of life following treatment; to determine whether the relationship between the client and therapist predicts the outcome of treatment; to assess the usefulness of the measures used. Method The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP2) and the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) were used to collect data from 66 clients and 13 therapists in a complementary therapies clinic in South Wales. Results The MYMOP2 data showed significant improvements for client symptoms and activity but not for well-being. A low correlation was found between MYMOP2 profile scores and WAI scores suggesting that symptoms, activity and well-being were associated with a positive working alliance but this narrowly failed to achieve statistical significance. Conclusion Further research is necessary to confirm improvements in client quality of life and to establish causes. More research is needed to examine the client–therapist relationship and treatment outcome.
ISSN:1744-3881
1873-6947
DOI:10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.06.005