VIDEO: Underserved populations benefit from ‘Community as Medicine’ approach

ORLANDO — Patients in underserved communities can gain support from a community as medicine model, according to a poster presented at Lifestyle Medicine Conference.

“The Community as Medicine model brings together transdiagnostic and diverse groups of patients to not just talk about health behaviors, but actually do them together,” Elizabeth Markle, PhD, of Open Source Wellness, said.

In a mixed-methods study, Markle and colleagues evaluated how a 12-week Open Source Wellness community participation program affected physical activity, mindfulness, stress reduction and nutrition.

“We are seeing dramatic increases in physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption; we're seeing decreases in depression, anxiety and loneliness; drops in blood pressure and about a 77% drop in emergency department visits,” Markle said.