| Combined
Data from 5 International Companies
Five
Global Companies (Shell, BP, Burmah Castrol, Hewlett-Packard
and Halliburton) conducted pilot studies to evaluate the efficacy
of the Inner Quality Management® (IQM) tools and new technology
within a corporate setting. The success of the pilot programs
lead to roll outs to other employees being trained in IQM
and the improvements seen remain remarkably consistent. The
data presented here represents the impact of the IQM program
on nearly 1,400 people at five global companies, as measured
by the psychometric survey. These results have been pooled
and are presented below.
Psychometric Results
Prior to attending the course, all participants completed
an extensive psychometric questionnaire, the Personal and
Organizational Quality Assessment (POQA).
The POQA was repeated after six weeks and six months to determine
the impact of the IQM program. In addition to this subjective
data some groups underwent objective assessment of their blood
pressure and heart rate variability before and after the IQM
program. The Company's own medical team gathered this data.
The main findings of the POQA are presented below in the form
of a table. Some groups have now been followed up at 12 months.
The data gathered demonstrates that the improvements seen
at 6 months are sustained at 12 months.
|
1.
Personal Data
|
Pre-IQM
|
Post IQM
|
Sample
size 1376
|
|
Before
|
6
weeks
|
6
months
|
|
| I
feel tired |
49%
|
31%
|
32%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel exhausted |
38%
|
20%
|
21%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel anxious |
35%
|
14%
|
14%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel worried |
33%
|
12%
|
15%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel annoyed |
29%
|
12%
|
11%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel angry |
17%
|
7%
|
5%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
feel tense |
41%
|
15%
|
21%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
experience sleeplessness |
29%
|
16%
|
11%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
have aches and pains |
25%
|
14%
|
17%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
|
2.
Business Data
|
Pre-IQM
|
Post IQM
|
Sample
size 1376
|
|
Before
|
6
weeks
|
6
months
|
|
| Intend
to leave job |
22%
|
19%
|
13%
|
Agree/Strongly
Agree |
| I
am focused |
63%
|
68%
|
82%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
am satisfied |
47%
|
56%
|
67%
|
Often/Most
of the Time |
| I
am an excellent listener |
66%
|
71%
|
88%
|
Agree/Strongly
Agree |
| I
am perceptive |
65%
|
72%
|
85%
|
Agree/Strongly
Agree |
| Home/Work
Conflict |
54%
|
44%
|
45%
|
Agree/Strongly
Agree |
Blood Pressure Results
Attendees on the first pilot study had their blood pressure
monitored over a three-week period prior to the IQM program.
The group average prior to the program was 126/80mmHg. Six
weeks after the program, with no other lifestyle changes,
the average blood pressure had fallen to 118/78mmHg. That
is an 8mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure and a 2 mmHg drop
in diastolic blood pressure. One particular individual, whose
blood pressure was very high prior to the program (160/100mmHg),
had the first normal reading (130/80 mmHg) for the first time
in fifteen years according to the Oil Company's Chief Occupational
Health Physician. This individual's blood pressure has remained
normal now for the 2 years since the IQM program.
The reduction in blood pressure in this pilot study was in
keeping with the reduction in blood pressure seen in other
groups who have run the IQM program.
Heart
Rate Variability Results
Heart rate variability (HRV), as measured by the beat-to-beat
variation pulse rate derived from a 24-hour electrocardiogram
(ECG), is a very sophisticated physiological measure. It has
been repeatedly shown to be a very powerful predictor of all
cause mortality and is known to be an important measure of
overall health. The scientific literature suggests that HRV
should remain stable over time with a gradual deterioration
with increasing with age. Significantly reduced HRV suggests
an increased risk of disease, premature aging and poor overall
health.
Controls
A number of individuals in the pilot studies have had their
HRV measured before and after the IQM program. In one pilot
study the entire management team underwent HRV analysis. In
this study all ten subjects who started to apply the tools
after the IQM program saw an objective improvement in their
physiology.
These significant objective improvements in physiology, as
measured by a range of HRV indices, occurred despite the management
team being in the middle of a major divisional re-organization.
The improvements in HRV ranged from 10-195% and were achieved
in just 8 weeks. This represents a reversal of the normal
age-related decline in HRV data and demonstrates that individuals
can indeed improve their physiology through practicing effective
self-management.
Overall those practicing the techniques taught saw a 20-30%
improvement in their data. The improvement in HRV in individuals
who practice the techniques has been confirmed in other organizational
case studies. We have also observed that the improvement in
HRV is closely related to the quality of application of the
techniques taught during the IQM program. The biggest improvements
in individual physiology have been seen in those individuals
who practice most consistently.
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Inner Quality Management, IQM and Freeze-Frame are registered
trademarks of the Institute of HeartMath.
Innovative Edge, Inc., is a certified and licensed HeartMath
facilitator.
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