scholarly journals Systematic Assessment of the Quality of Research Studies of Conventional and Alternative Treatment(s) of Primary Headache State of the Data at the Mid-Point of the Decade of Pain Control and Research

2009 ◽  
Vol 2;12 (2;3) ◽  
pp. 461-470
Author(s):  
Cindy C. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Alternative Treatment ◽  
Primary Headache ◽  
Jadad Score ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Quality Of Research ◽  
Complementary And Alternative ◽  
Research Studies

Background: Diversity of treatments used for headache, and varied quality of research conduct and reporting make it difficult to accurately assess the literature and to determine the best treatment(s) for patients. Objectives: To compare the quality of available research evidence describing the effects and outcomes of conventional, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to treating primary (migraine, tension, and/or cluster-type) headache. Study Design: A systematic review of quality of research studies of conventional and alternative treatment(s) of primary headache. Methods: Randomized, controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of treatment(s) of chronic primary headache (in English between 1979 to June 2004) were searched through MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the NIH databases. Studies were evaluated using standard approaches for assessing and analyzing quality indicators. Results: 125 studies of conventional, and 121 CAM treatments met inclusion criteria. 80% of studies of conventional treatment(s) reported positive effects (P<0.05), versus 73% of studies of CAM approaches (chi2 = 3.798, 1 df, p=0.051). Overall, the literature addressing the treatment of primary headache received a mean Jadad score of 2.72 out of 5 (SD 1.1). The mean Jadad score for studies of conventional therapeutics was significantly better than for those studies of CAM approaches: 3.21 ± 0.9 vs 2.23 ± 1.1 (t=7.72, 246 df, mean difference 0.98, p < 0.0005). Conclusions: Studies of conventional treatments scored higher on reporting quality than studies of CAM approaches. It is possible that these differences may reflect distinctions in 1) methodologic integrity, 2) therapeutic paradigm(s), and/or 3) bias(es) in the approach(es) used to evaluate certain types of therapies. Each of these possibilities — and the implications — is addressed and considered. Key words: chronic headache, complementary and alternative medicine, research quality, randomized controlled trial, Jadad scores

EVALUATION OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS ON COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard S. Bloom ◽  
Aurélia Retbi ◽  
Sandrine Dahan ◽  
Egon Jonsson
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
English Language ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Objectives: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing in all Western countries. The goal of this study was to evaluate quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CAM interventions for specific diagnoses to inform clinical decision making.Methods: MEDLINE and related databases were searched for CAM RCTs. Visual review was done of bibliographies, meta-analyses, and CAM journals. Inclusion criteria for review and scoring were blinded RCT, specified diagnosis and intervention, complete study published between January 1, 1966 and July 31, 1998 in an English-language, peer-reviewed journal. Two reviewers independently scored each study.Results: More than 5,000 trials were found, but only 258 met all study inclusion criteria. The main cause for rejection (> 90%) was that the study was not an RCT or had no blinding. Mean score across 95 diagnosis/intervention categories was 44.7 (S.D. ± 14.3) on a 100-point scale. Ordinary least-squares regression found date of publication, biostatistician as author or consultant, published in one of five widely read English-language medical journals and diagnosis/intervention category of hypertension/relaxation as significant predictors of higher scores.Conclusions: The overall quality of evidence for CAM RCTs is poor but improving slowly over time, about the same as that of biomedicine. Thus, most services are provided without good evidence of benefit.

An Innovative Patient-centered Approach to Common Playing-related Pain Conditions in Musicians

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-173
Author(s):  
Marc Brodsky ◽  
Ka-Kit Hui
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Case Discussion ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Musicians are increasingly seeking out complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to relieve suffering that results from playing-related pain conditions. Using an innovative patient-centered model, an approach has been developed that can incorporate various medical systems and therapeutics to offer safe, effective, affordable, and accessible health care for musicians. A case discussion explores how musicians, through combining different traditions of medicine in orchestration, can optimize their quality of life while meeting their needs of prevention and rehabilitation of occupation-related conditions.

How to Search and Critique Scientific Evidence for Decision-Making

2017 ◽  
pp. 100-123
Author(s):  
Mayuree Tangkiatkumjai ◽  
Win Winit-Watjana ◽  
Li-Chia Chen
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

A clinical decision on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) should be made based on evidence-based medicine (EBM) together with practitioner's knowledge and experiences. This chapter describes the process of EBM, including how to address a clinical question, do a systematic search for appropriate evidence with key search terms, appraise the evidence and make a clinical decision on CAM applications. An effective literature search should be performed by using a structured search strategy in searching biomedical and CAM databases, such as the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM Citation Index). Few standard tools are recommended to evaluate the quality of CAM studies, i.e. the CONSORT extension for herbal interventions and STRICTA for RCTs of acupuncture. Additionally, some guidelines for designing RCTs in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) can also be adopted to critique CAM literature. A clinical decision on choosing optimal CAM for patient care should be based on the current best evidence emerged from the EBM process.

scholarly journals P488 Impact of complementary and alternative medicine on quality of life in IBD patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. S205-S206
Author(s):  
S. Nahon ◽  
P. Lahmek ◽  
A. Buisson ◽  
A. Olympie ◽  
C. Poupardin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative
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