title: Alternative health practices in ethnically diverse rural areas: a collaborative research project.
abstract: Many alternative health practices are gaining popularity in traditional medical centers throughout the country. However, social workers and allied health professionals are rarely educated in these practices. The collaborative pilot research project discussed in this article involved community health providers and a state university department of social work. The project, conducted in rural health clinics, introduced an approach to skillful, safe, and appropriate use of touch synthesized with an awareness of the breath for giver and receiver to a group of Mexican Americans diagnosed with diabetes and their families. This alternative health practice holds promise for reducing stress, promoting health and well-being, and building relationships and warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003-8001, USA.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Vest
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ronnau
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzales
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003256:Community Participation; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012423:Rural Health; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014110:Touch
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose