Evaluating complementary medicine: methodological challenges of randomised controlled trials

Complementary medicine has a different philosophy from conventional medicine, presenting challenges to research methodology. Rigorous evaluation of complementary medicine could provide much needed evidence of its effectiveness. Good design of randomised controlled trials will avoid invalid results and misrepresentation of the holistic essence of complementary medicine. Practitioners need to be recognised as a component in or contributor to complementary treatment. Both specific and non-specific outcome measures with long follow up are needed to adequately encompass the essence of complementary medicine

Proceeding: 3rd Java International Nursing Conference 2015 “Harmony of Caring and Healing Inquiry for Holistic Nursing Practice; Enhancing Quality of Care”, Semarang, 20-21 August 2015

This is the proceeding of the 3rd Java International Nursing Conference 2015 organized by School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, in collaboration with STIKES Kendal. The conference was held on 20-21 August 2015 in Semarang, Indonesia. The conference aims to enable educators, students, practitioners and researchers from nursing, medicine, midwifery and other health sciences to disseminate and discuss evidence of nursing education, research, and practices to improve the quality of care. This conference also provides participants opportunities to develop their professional networks, learn from other colleagues and meet leading personalities in nursing and health sciences. The 3rd JINC 2015 was comprised of keynote lectures and concurrent submitted oral presentations and poster sessions. The following themes have been chosen to be the focus of the conference: (a) Multicenter Science: Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, etc. in Holistic Nursing Practice, (b) Complementary Therapy in Nursing and Complementary, Alternative Medicine: Alternative Medicine (Herbal Medicine), Complementary Therapy (Cupping, Acupuncture, Yoga, Aromatherapy, Music Therapy, etc.), (c) Application of Inter-professional Collaboration and Education: Education Development in Holistic Nursing, Competencies of Holistic Nursing, Learning Methods and Assessments, and (d) Application of Holistic Nursing: Leadership & Management, Entrepreneurship in Holistic Nursing, Application of Holistic Nursing in Clinical and Community Settings

Factors associated with self-care activities among adults in the United Kingdom: a systematic review

Background: The Government has promoted self-care. Our aim was to review evidence about who uses self-tests and other self-care activities (over-the-counter medicine, private sector,complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), home blood pressure monitors). Methods: During April 2007, relevant bibliographic databases (Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, PsycINFO,British Nursing Index, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Sociological Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Arthritis and Complementary Medicine Database, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Pain Database) were searched, and potentially relevant studies were reviewed against eligibility criteria. Studies were included if they were published during the last 15 years and identified factors, reasons or characteristics associated with a relevant activity among UK adults. Two independent reviewers used proformas to assess the quality of eligible studies. Results: 206 potentially relevant papers were identified, 157 were excluded, and 49 papers related to 46 studies were included: 37 studies were, or used data from questionnaire surveys, 36 had quality scores of five or more out of 10, and 27 were about CAM. Available evidence suggests that users of CAM and over-the-counter medicine are female, middle-aged, affluent and/or educated with some measure of poor health, and that people who use the private sector are affluent and/or educated. Conclusion: People who engage in these activities are likely to be affluent. Targeted promotion may, therefore, be needed to ensure that use is equitable. People who use some activities also appear to have poorer measures of health than non-users or people attending conventional services. It is, therefore, also important to ensure that self-care is not used as a second choice for people who have not had their needs met by conventional service

Relationships and implications for complementary and alternative medicine in Aotearoa New Zealand: A discussion paper

The purpose of this paper is to initiate a discussion on contextualising the relationship between the nursing profession and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within Aotearoa New Zealand. There is limited research and data linking complementary and alternative medicine to nursing or how this could be integrated into health care delivery. The authors’ intentions are to raise awareness of a trend within health and wellness that could have implications for the nursing profession in Aotearoa New Zealand. Existing knowledge from overseas research is discussed to raise awareness on complementary and alternative medicine knowledge and any perceptions or educational needs nurses may require when considering the utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine. A range of questions are presented aimed at highlighting areas of development and future research for nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand if complementary and alternative medicine therapies or theory are applied within mainstream health care settings. Ngā ariā matua Te kaupapa ia o tēnei tuhinga he wāhi i te kōrero kia whakatatangia mai te hononga o te umanga tapuhi ki ngā rongoā tāpiri, kaupapa tuarua hoki (CAM) i Aotearoa. He iti noa ngā rangahau me ngā raraunga e tūhono ana i ngā rongoā tāpiri, kaupapa tuarua hoki ki te ao tapuhi, me pēhea rānei e taea te tūhono ki te horanga taurimatanga hauora i Aotearoa. Te whāinga ia o ngā kaituhi he whakapiki i te māramatanga ki tētahi ia i roto i te hauora me te waiora e puta ake ai he pānga ki te umanga tapuhi i Aotearoa. Ka whakamahia ngā mōhiotanga mai i ngā rangahau i tāwāhi hei whakapiki i te māramatanga ki ngā rongoā tāpiri, kaupapa tuarua hoki, me ngā kitenga, ngā hiahia whakangungu rānei e tika ana mā te tapuhi ina whakaaro ake ki te whakamahi i ngā rongoā tāpiri, kaupapa tuarua hoki. Ka tāpaetia mai te huhua o ngā pātai hei miramira i ngā wāhanga mō te whanaketanga me ngā rangahau mō te mahi tapuhi i Aotearoa mehemea ka whakamahia ngā rongoā tāpiri, kaupapa tuarua hoki i ngā horopaki hauora auraki

A Tale of Two Needles

Looking back, I guess the name should have been my first clue. “Alternative” medicine? “Complementary” medicine? What is it about these medical practices, which to me are completely traditional, that places them in a secondary position to other medicinal options in the United States? [excerpt

Attitudes towards Complementary Medicine in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain

The epidemic of opiate use-related deaths has become a public health crisis and has highlighted the potentially lethal effects of opiates. Vermont has adopted new laws to address the prescription of opiates, which has reduced the number of prescriptions by 41% between 2013 and 2017. However, there has been sparse research how the decrease in prescriptions has influenced the use of non-pharmacologic and/or complementary methods of pain management, such as acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, yoga, massage, meditation, and psychotherapy. In October and November 2018, patients with musculoskeletal pain were surveyed about current methods of pain management, experience with complementary medicine, likelihood of using complementary methods in the future, and potential barriers to use. Interviews were conducted at the Community Health Centers of Burlington - Riverside. Nine patients completed the survey, 5 of 9 had chronic pain (\u3e3 months). Most patients had used either medications or physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain in the past. Participants expressed most interest in using chiropractic manipulation, massage, and acupuncture for future pain management. Barriers included cost, lack of time and/or scheduling, and lack of knowledge about the benefits of complementary therapy. Future interventions should address these barriers, and should also focus on educating providers about the efficacy and local availability of complementary medical services.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1471/thumbnail.jp

Complementary and alternative medicine : facts and figures (part I)

Complementary and alternative medical practices are flourishing despite the current fast pace of scientific research and discovery. Traditional practices combine with newer philosophies to make up the vast spectrum that constitute this phenomenon. To describe homeopathy and acupuncture, proposed mechanisms of action, present scientific research to prove or disprove their efficacy and discuss safety issues. Studies, reviews and meta-analyses dealing with this subject were researched from various publications to present evidence for or against the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine. Recent rigorous studies on acupuncture and homeopathy show no results beyond what is attributable to placebo effect. Complementary and alternative medical practices should be researched for efficacy and safety by the same standards used in conventional medicine.peer-reviewe

Kava - the unfolding story: Report on a work-in-progress.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8(3), 237-263

How Do We Know It Works? Approaches to the Evaluation of Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine is a term used to cover a vast array of treatment procedures as wide ranging as aroma therapy, iridology, acupuncture, homeopathy and osteopathy. It is sometimes known as alternative or even folk medicine. These complementary therapies exist because people find them helpful. Research must, therefore, be directed at asking 'Who?' ,. 'What?', and 'How?'. In the following chapter ways of answering these questions are examined. Emphasis is given to the need for a variety of different research strategies and tactics. A preliminary outline of an overall approach which would hold together the strands in a fruitful way is proposed, based on facet Meta-Theory. In considering the emerging research prospect for the study of complementary medical practice it is important to clarify some initial premises. These provide a framework within which to consider a great variety of research possibilities. They also point towards areas of study that might not otherwise be apparent