scholarly journals Complementary and alternative medicine - practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizhou Liu ◽  
Yong Tang ◽  
G. David Baxter ◽  
Haiyan Yin ◽  
Steve Tumilty
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Cam Regulation ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Abstract Background The prevalence of CAM use is increasing. This integrative review investigated New Zealand healthcare professionals’ practice of, attitudes toward, and knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods Literature search was conducted in four databases from inception to April 2020. Studies were included if they reported results from primary data collection on practice of, attitudes toward, or knowledge about CAM amongst New Zealand healthcare professionals. Results Eleven studies (two of ‘high-quality’, seven of ‘moderate-quality’, and two of ‘low-quality’) were identified with 2060 healthcare professionals including general practitioners (GPs), nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and medical specialists. New Zealand healthcare professionals were generally positive regarding CAM use, but have concerns on the scientific evidence, regulation, safety, financial costs of CAM, and encourage an evidence-based CAM practice and stronger CAM regulation. Findings indicated that around 25% of GPs practise CAM, and 82.3% refer patients to CAM practitioners. When treating pregnant women, 48.4% of physiotherapists practise acupuncture, and 37.3% of midwives recommend CAM. GPs believe that acupuncture is the most helpful CAM modality, and most commonly practiced and referred patients to acupuncture. Up to 58% of GPs and Plunket nurses wanted to receive further education on CAM, and up to 66.7% GPs favour the idea CAM should be included in medical curriculums. Conclusions Nine of the 11 included studies were of moderate to high quality, thus enhancing the reliability of the review findings. In order to better manage CAM in New Zealand New Zealand clinical settings, there is a need to invest in CAM research and education, and enhance CAM regulation. This review is a first step in developing an evidence base to offer insights for further development of effective CAM policies regarding safety, efficacy, regulation and integration in New Zealand.

scholarly journals Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Breast Cancer Patients at a Medical Center in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153473542098391
Author(s):  
Chieh-Ying Chin ◽  
Yung-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Shin-Chung Wu ◽  
Chien-Ting Liu ◽  
Yun-Fang Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming more common in medical practice, but little is known about the concurrent use of CAM and conventional treatment. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the types of CAM used and their prevalence in a regional patient cohort with breast cancer (BC). Methods BC patients were interviewed with a structured questionnaire survey on the use of CAM in southern Taiwan at an Integrative Breast Cancer Center (IBCC). The National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) classification was used to group responses. Over a period of 8 months, all patients receiving treatment for cancer at the IBCC were approached. Results A total of 106 BC patients completed the survey (response rate: 79.7%). The prevalence of CAM use was 82.4%. Patients who were employed, were receiving radiotherapy and hormone therapy, and had cancer for a longer duration were more likely to use CAM ( P < .05). Multivariate analysis identified employment as an independent predictor of CAM use (OR = 6.92; 95% CI = 1.33-36.15). Dietary supplementation (n = 69, 82.1%) was the type of CAM most frequently used, followed by exercise (n = 48, 57.1%) and traditional Chinese medicine (n = 29, 34.5%). The main reason for using CAM was to ameliorate the side effects of conventional therapies. Almost half (46.4%) of these CAM users did not disclose that they were using it in medical consultations with their physicians. Most chose to use CAM due to recommendations from family and friends. Conclusion A large portion of BC patients at the IBCC undergoing anti-cancer treatment courses used CAM, but less than half discussed it with their physicians. Given the high prevalence of CAM, it would be justifiable to direct further resources toward this service so that cancer patients can benefit from a holistic approach to their treatment.

scholarly journals DIPG-84. COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii303-iii304
Author(s):  
Fatma El-Khouly ◽  
Syed Adil ◽  
Harry Hendrikse ◽  
Gertjan Kaspers ◽  
Christof Kramm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Pontine Glioma ◽  
Anticancer Effects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Abstract INTRODUCTION Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a rare and aggressive childhood brainstem malignancy with a two-year survival rate of ≤10%. In this international survey study we aim to evaluate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in this patient population. METHODS Parents of-, and physicians treating DIPG patients were asked to participate in a retrospective online survey with questions regarding CAM use during time of illness. RESULTS 120 parents and 75 physicians contributed to the online survey between January and May 2020. Physicians estimated that &lt;50% of their patients used CAM, whereas 69% of the parents reported to have used CAM to treat their child during time of illness. Cannabis was the most widely used form of CAM, followed by vitamins and minerals, melatonin, curcumin and boswellic acid. CAM was mainly used to actively treat the tumor. Other motivations were to treat side effects of chemotherapy, or to comfort the child. Children diagnosed ≥2016 were more likely to use CAM (χ2=6.08, p=0.014). No significant difference was found between CAM users and non-users based on ethnicity (χ2=4.18, p=0.382) and country of residence (χ2=9.37, p=0.154). Almost 50% of the physicians do not frequently ask their patients about possible CAM use. CONCLUSION This survey demonstrates that worldwide a considerable number of DIPG patients use CAM. Physicians should be more aware of potential CAM use and more actively discuss the topic. More research is needed to gain knowledge about possible anticancer effects of CAM and their interactions with conventional therapies.

Prevalence, Pattern and Predictors of use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Migraine Patients Attending a Headache Clinic in Italy

Cephalalgia ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 493-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Rossi ◽  
G Di Lorenzo ◽  
MG Malpezzi ◽  
J Faroni ◽  
F Cesarino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Transformed Migraine ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Headache Clinic ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in migraine is a growing phenomenon about which little is known. This study was undertaken to evaluate the rates, pattern and presence of predictors of CAM use in a clinical population of patients with different migraine subtypes. Four hundred and eighty-one migraineurs attending a headache clinic were asked to undergo a physician-administered structured interview designed to gather information on CAM use. Past use of CAM therapies was reported by 31.4% of the patients surveyed, with 17.1% having used CAM in the previous year. CAM therapies were perceived as beneficial by 39.5% of the patients who had used them. A significantly higher proportion of transformed migraine patients reported CAM treatments as ineffective compared with patients suffering from episodic migraine (73.1% vs. 50.7%, P < 0.001). The most common source of a recommendation of CAM was a friend or relative (52.7%). In most cases, migraineurs' recourse to CAM treatments was specifically for their headache (89.3%). Approximately 61% of CAM users had not informed their medical doctors of their CAM use. The most common reason for deciding to try a CAM therapy was that it offered a ‘potential improvement of headache’ (47.7%). The greatest users of CAM treatments were: patients with a diagnosis of transformed migraine; those who had consulted a high number of specialists and reported a higher lifetime number of conventional medical visits; those with a comorbid psychiatric disorder; those with a high income; and those whose headache had been either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Our findings suggest that headache clinic migraine patients, in their need of and quest for care, seek and explore both conventional and CAM approaches. Physicians should be made aware of this patient-driven change in the medical climate in order to prevent misuse of healthcare resources and to be better equipped to meet patients' needs.

Canadian Ophthalmologists’ Opinions Concerning Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use in Glaucoma

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 430-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tenley N. Bower ◽  
Sana Muhsen ◽  
Olga Overbury ◽  
Catherine Birt ◽  
Oscar Kasner
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

scholarly journals Critical Review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Prevalence and Users’ Profile, Decision-Making, Information Seeking, and Disclosure in the Face of a Lack of Efficacy

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Adams ◽  
Michael Lee ◽  
Wenbo Peng
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Despite a lack of evidence of clinical efficacy for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), these medicines remain popular around the world. Objective: To examine the prevalence and cost of CAM use in ALS and CAM users’ profile, decision-making, information seeking, and disclosure among ALS patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted of MEDLINE, CINAHL/SCOPUS, and AMED databases from their inception to April 2018. This review followed PRISMA guidelines and employed a quality scoring system to assess the included papers. Results: Seven papers met the inclusion criteria and were thematically analysed. ALS patients utilized a range of CAM therapies and/or products, with acupuncture and vitamins being the most frequently reported. CAM modalities were often employed concurrently with conventional medications throughout the disease process. Although some ALS patients reported positive experience regarding CAM use, many were reluctant to disclose their CAM use to their clinicians. Research focusing on CAM use in ALS remains ad hoc and restricted to only a few countries. The rigour and quality of this research field to date has been varied, predominantly drawing upon regional/localized data and failing to report CAM users’ characteristics. Conclusion: A proportion of ALS patients report utilizing CAM concurrently with conventional treatments. Such use, set amidst a dearth of evidence for the efficacy of CAM in ALS, poses potential direct and indirect risks to patient care, and medical providers should be mindful of and enquire about CAM use when treating ALS patients.

scholarly journals Quality Assessment of Online Complementary and Alternative Medicine Information Resources Relevant to Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153473542110660
Author(s):  
Megan E. Sansevere ◽  
Jeffrey D. White
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is often used by cancer patients and survivors in the US. Many people turn to the internet as their first source of information. Health information seeking through the internet can be useful for patients to gain a better understanding of specific CAM treatments to discuss with their healthcare team, but only if the information is comprehensive, high quality, and reliable. The aim of this article is to examine the content, writing/vetting processes, and visibility of cancer CAM online informational resources. Methods: Online CAM resources were identified by Google and PubMed searches, literature reviews, and through sources listed on various websites. The websites were analyzed through a modified online health information evaluation tool, DISCERN (score range = 1-5). The website’s features relevant to the quality assessment were described. Results: Eleven CAM websites were chosen for analysis. The DISCERN analysis showed a range of quality scores from 3.6 to 4.9. Lower DISCERN scores were generally due to deficiencies in describing the writing, editing, and updating processes. A lack of transparency with authorship and references was commonly present. Conclusion: Cancer patients interested in CAM need unbiased, evidence-based, reliable, high-quality, easily accessible educational materials. Individuals should use the guidelines followed in this analysis (including DISCERN and Medline Plus) to find reliable sources. Website developers can use CAM Cancer (NAFKAM), Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, breastcancer.org , Office of Dietary Supplements, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and Cancer.gov as models for trustworthy content.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document