title: Labyrinth walking in corrections.
abstract: A 6 week labyrinth walking program was pilot tested in a correctional setting and goals were to: 1) determine the feasibility of a labyrinth walking curriculum; 2) pilot test measures of health related quality of life (QOL) (pre and post-surveys) and blood pressure; and 3) examine the influence of relationship-centered teaching on subject satisfaction. Relational communication was used as a framework for this study, emphasizing concepts of trust, competency and similarly in the teacher. A pretest/posttest descriptive design was used. The sample was 14 offenders at a Massachusetts county jail. The intervention included six 90 minute sessions, composed of a lecture, a labyrinth walk, and journal writing. Measures included a demographic survey; pre and post session walk blood pressures; pre and post program QOL measures; and a post program measure of satisfaction. The sample was 57% Caucasian, 36% Hispanic, and 7% African American, with an average age of 34, mostly high school educated and single. Drug of choice was alcohol with age of use at 12 and 1/2 years. Seventy-nine percent were previously incarcerated more than twice. QOL data were not changed pre to post. BP data trended in a healthy direction from weeks 1 to 6. Satisfaction with the teacher and the program was high. The labyrinth walking pilot program was proven feasible, low cost and satisfying for the participants. Recommendations for future studies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. donna@acad.umass.edu
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zucker
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult