Evaluating a complementary therapies clinic: outcomes and relationships.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Centre for Complementary Therapies, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Western Avenue, Cardiff, Wales, UK. peharris@uwic.ac.uk
Philip
P
Harris
Rhian C
RC
Atkins
Tina
T
Alwyn
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019341:Aromatherapy; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult