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 The ACP Evidence-Based Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungmi Lian
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Practice Of Medicine ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is no longer new terminology in the healthcare system but,evidence-based CAMis still an unfamiliar term. Evidence-based medicine, a practice of medicine based on the recommendation derived from a systematic, scientific study of published data, is accepted as the standard in the healthcare.ACP Evidence-Based Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicineby Bradly Jacobs and Katherine Gundling is reviewed. Up-to-date reference books like theACP Evidence-Based Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicineis an essential tool for improving quality of care when the providers aim to practice evidence-based medicine.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine III: Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Chiappelli ◽  
Audrey M. Navarro ◽  
David R. Moradi ◽  
Ercolano Manfrini ◽  
Paolo Prolo
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

This paper presents the novel domain of evidence-based research (EBR) in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) from the perspective of traditional medicine and of complementary and alternative medicine. In earlier lectures we have described the process of evidence-based medicine as a methodological approach to clinical practice that is directed to aid clinical decision-making. Here, we present a practical example of this approach with respect to traditional pharmacological interventions and to complementary and alternative treatments for patients with AD.

A Novel N of 1 Trial Design and Proposed Utility in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Z. Goldenberg ◽  
Cynthia A. Wenner
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Medicine Research ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Subgroup Effects ◽  
Parent Trial ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

An N of 1 trial is a multiple crossover study in a single participant. N of 1trials can combine the benefits of individualized patient practice and evidence-based medicine and are amenable to complementary and alternative medicine practice and research. This article will review the basic structure of N of 1trials, discuss how they are commonly used, and review their limitations and statistical considerations. The authors also propose a novel use of the N of 1 trial in the form of mixed-methodology add-on N of 1 trials targeted to a parent trial’s responders. This design can help uncover evidence of subgroup effects in small trials, address issues surrounding the small study effect, and explore the role of interparticipant variability and random chance in the parent trial.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine II: The Process of Evidence-Based Research

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Chiappelli ◽  
Paolo Prolo ◽  
Monica Rosenblum ◽  
Myeshia Edgerton ◽  
Olivia S. Cajulis
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Scientific Method ◽  
Consensus Statement ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Alternative Interventions ◽  
Assess Quality ◽  
Contemporary Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

It is a common practice in contemporary medicine to follow stringently the scientific method in the process of validating efficacy and effectiveness of new or improved modes of treatment intervention. It follows that these complementary or alternative interventions must be validated by stringent research before they can be reliably integrated into Western medicine. The next decades will witness an increasing number of evidence-based research directed at establishing the best available evidence in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This second paper in this lecture series examines the process of evidence-based research (EBR) in the context of CAM. We outline the fundamental principles, process and relevance of EBR, and its implication to CAM. We underscore areas of future development in EBR. We note that the main problem of applying EBR to CAM at present has to do with the fact that the contribution of EBR can be significant only to the extent to which studies used in the process of EBR are of good quality. All too often CAM research is not of sufficient quality to warrant the generation of a consensus statement. EBR, nevertheless, can contribute to CAM by identifying current weaknesses of CAM research. We present a revised instrument to assess quality of the literature.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen C. Bowling
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Many patients with multiple sclerosis use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, health professionals may have limited knowledge about CAM therapies and may not know which CAM therapies are being used by patients who are under their care. These CAM therapies may be beneficial or harmful and may interact with conventional multiple sclerosis medications. Therefore, quality of care may be improved if clinicians have the skills and knowledge to provide unbiased, evidence-based CAM information to patients and, when appropriate, to guide patients away from harmful or ineffective therapies and toward low-risk, possibly effective therapies. This chapter provides information to practicing clinicians so that they will be able to guide and inform their patients with multiple sclerosis about CAM.

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