BraveNet Integrative Medicine Descriptive Study

The Bravewell Integrative Medicine Research Network (BraveNet) is a newly formed practice-based research network of nine leading integrative medicine centers around the U.S. collaborating in clinical outcomes research to increase the knowledge and evidence-base of integrative medicine.

Specific Aims of BraveNet:

1. Demonstrate feasibility for the nine sites of BraveNet to coordinate in specifying data elements, developing and implementing smooth data collection procedures, analyzing the data, publishing and disseminating the results through scientific conferences and journals.
2. Describe the patients seeking care at Integrative Medicine centers, in terms of:

   1. demographics, presenting symptoms, health conditions, type of care sought, and expectations for treatment;
   2. quality of life, mood, stress; and
   3. lifestyle factors.
3. Explore potential patterns within the sample \[e.g., do the survey scores vary by demographics, by condition, by type patient (new vs return), by type of help sought, etc.\].
4. Utilize above data as pilot data for future studies and funding opportunities.

Up to five hundred eligible patients seen at each of the nine participating Centers will be approached (by mail, phone, at the time of their visit, etc.) and invited to consent to the paper and pencil study. The patient survey will clearly state that participation is voluntary with a written consent to participate on the front. Individual practices will report the response rate in order to monitor the potential effect of volunteer bias. Participant completion of questionnaires should take 15 to 30 minutes, and should be completed within 2 weeks of the patient visit., The corresponding provider form will be completed by the provider/research staff within 5 days of the visit.

Measures:

1. Baseline Questionnaires - Demographics and reason for visit
2. Quality of Life. The SF-12 (Short Form 12)
3. Mood (Depression). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
4. Stress. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
5. Visual Analog Scales (VAS). Four self-report VASs will be used to measure aspects of pain, fatigue and restfulness of sleep.
6. Provider Form. Providers/ Research Staff will complete this form to indicate the type of provider seen, the CPT codes used to describe/bill for the service, the services provided, and the provider's assessment of current medical conditions/co-morbidities.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:

  1. Age: At least 18 years of age.
  2. Patient Status: Participants are eligible if seen individually by any type of clinician on the day of the visit.
  3. English or Spanish Literacy: Ability to read and write English or Spanish as confirmed by the site personnel and ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects will be excluded from this study if any of the following criteria apply:

  1. Cognitive Impairment: A subject will not be eligible if he/she has a history of psychiatric disease, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other conditions which will limit the validity of providing informed consent to participate in the study.
  2. Inability to read and write in English or Spanish.
  3. Participating only in educational Center activities, not as a clinical patient.