title: Employee use and perceived benefit of a complementary and alternative medicine wellness clinic at a major military hospital: evaluation of a pilot program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to examine the feasibility of a weekly on-site complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) wellness clinic for staff at a military hospital, and to describe employees' perceptions of program effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study setting was the Restore & Renew(®) Wellness Clinic at a United States Department of Defense hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were hospital nurses, physicians, clinicians, support staff, and administrators.
  
  
  METHODS
  The walk-in wellness clinic was open 8:00 am-2:00 pm 1 day a week. Participants selected one or more modalities each visit: ear acupuncture, clinical acupressure, and Zero Balancing.(®)
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-report survey was done after each clinic visit to evaluate clinic features and perceived impact on stress-related symptoms, compassion for patients, sleep, and workplace or personal relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys completed after first-time and repeat visits (n=2,756 surveys) indicated that most participants agreed or strongly agreed they felt more relaxed after sessions (97.9%), less stress (94.5%), more energy (84.3%), and less pain (78.8%). Ninety-seven percent (97%) would recommend it to a co-worker. Among surveys completed after five or more visits, more than half (59%-85%) strongly agreed experiencing increased compassion with patients, better sleep, improved mood, and more ease in relations with co-workers. Perceived benefits were sustained and enhanced by number of visits. The most frequently reported health habit changes were related to exercise, stress reduction, diet/nutrition, and weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This evaluation suggests that a hospital-based wellness clinic based on CAM principles and modalities is feasible, well-utilized, and perceived by most participants to have positive health benefits related to stress reduction at work, improved mood and sleep, and lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: HealingWorks: Restoring & Renewing Military Families, Silver Spring, MD, USA. alaine_duncan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alaine D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liechty
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chinoy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D020831:Acupuncture, Ear; D000339:Affect; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004645:Empathy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012890:Sleep; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D017132:Workplace