Roots and wings: a pilot of a mind-body-spirit program

The overwhelming supply and demand for holistic health information and services suggest the need for integrative medical centers to offer experientially based educational programs. Seventeen individuals participated in a pilot of a 12-week multidisciplinary program titled Roots and Wings. Self-reported pre- and postmeasures were completed by 11 participants and indicated promising outcomes across the dimensions of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Participants had a statistically significant decrease in physical and psychological symptoms and an increase in daily spiritual experiences. Statistically significant positive changes were also found for psychological attitudes and health locus of control in addition to indicators of behavior, satisfaction and attitudes relevant to the goals of Roots and Wings. The content of the program and the implications of these findings for nurse educators are discussed.