Preferred Types of Menopause Service Delivery

Author(s):  
Abbey Hyde ◽  
Jean Nee ◽  
Michelle Butler ◽  
Jonathan Drennan ◽  
Etaoine Howlett

This article analyses what a sample of women experiencing menopause say they would like in terms of a quality menopause health service. Thirty-nine women who defined themselves as currently or recently menopausal were interviewed in depth, and data were analysed using a qualitative strategy known as thematic networks analysis. In terms of the structure of a menopause service, the dominant picture emerging was that women wanted an integrative menopause service where General Practitioners would act as a gateway to both biomedical treatments and complementary and alternative medicine. In addition, participants recommended that practitioners be knowledgeable about the wider (psychosocial) issues associated with menopause, and well versed in a range of therapies. In terms of process issues, participants wanted a service where their experiences were listened to and taken seriously. Given the tension between biomedicine and complementary and alternative medicine over the status of knowledge and diverse approaches to what counts as evidence about whether or not a therapy works, at least some aspects of what participants want from a menopause service may be very difficult to realise.

2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (28) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Árpád Soós ◽  
Ajándék Eőry ◽  
Ajándok Eőry ◽  
László Harsányi ◽  
László Kalabay

Introduction: The patients initiate the use of complementary and alternative medicine and this often remains hidden from their primary care physician. Aim: To explore general practitioners’ knowledge and attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine, and study the need and appropriate forms of education, as well as ask their opinion on integration of alternative medicine into mainstream medicine. Method: A voluntary anonymous questionnaire was used on two conferences for general practitioners organized by the Family Medicine Department of Semmelweis University. Complementary and alternative medicine was defined by the definition of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and certified modalities were all listed. Results: 194 general practitioners answered the questionnaire (39.8% response rate). 14% of the responders had licence in at least one complementary and alternative medicine modalities, 45% used complementary and alternative medicine in their family in case of illnesses. It was the opinion of the majority (91.8%) that it was necessary to be familiar with every method used by their patients, however, 82.5% claimed not to have enough knowledge in complementary medicine. Graduate and postgraduate education in the field was thought to be necessary by 86% of the responders; increased odds for commitment in personal education was found among female general practitioners, less than 20 years professional experience and personal experience of alternative medicine. Conclusions: These data suggest that general practitioners would like to know more about complementary and alternative medicine modalities used by their patients. They consider education of medical professionals necessary and a special group is willing to undergo further education in the field. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(28), 1133–1139.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Upsdell ◽  
Chrystal Jaye

INTRODUCTION: A number of surveys in New Zealand have documented the growing interest and experience that GPs have in their encounters with complementary and alternative medicine. This study has focussed on reasons why some GPs choose to engage with CAM, how these reflect their aims of health care, the difficulties they encounter and how these are negotiated within the consultation. METHOD: A sample of 12 mainstream GPs from the greater Auckland area agreed to a semi-structured interview, and the transcripts were analysed using grounded theory technique. FINDINGS: All general practitioners interviewed in this study were confronted to a greater or lesser extent with their patients’ interest in CAM. Not all chose to engage with the subject. Those who did engage cited a number of reasons for doing so which included a desire to remain patient-centred, to place their patients’ choices within the context of a good diagnosis, to provide what evidence-based information they could and to minimise potential harms from its use. CONCLUSION: This study adds weight to findings in previous studies that many general practitioners encounter CAM in their consultations and explores reasons why they choose to engage with it. The findings suggest that increased dialogue with non-mainstream health practitioners and access to knowledge sources giving a basic understanding of CAM practices and philosophies that both CAM and mainstream practitioner communities regard as reliable would be of benefit to these GPs. KEYWORDS: Complementary and alternative medicine; family practice; patient-centered medicine


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bo-Young Youn ◽  
Seongwan Ju ◽  
Shinhyoung Joo ◽  
Hoseok Kang ◽  
Kiyoung Jeon ◽  
...  

The objective of the study was to explore the status of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Korean elite athletes. A survey was emailed to all Korean national sports federations recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia. A total of 705 Korean elite athletes participated in this study. The athletes had to be any of the following to participate in this survey: elite intercollegiate athletes, professional athletes, and national team athletes. 83.3% of the participants stated that they have previously experienced Korean medicine (KM). Compared to the general population in Korea, athletes had more experience (general population = 73.8%). The participants without experience mentioned that they either did not need any KM treatments (39.8%) or lacked information (39.8%) regarding KM treatments. The primary reason for the utilization of KM was the effectiveness of treatments. Therefore, 70.8% of the participants have mentioned recommending KM to others. Generally, athletes are worrisome that the consumption of herbal medicine may not be doping-free; however, it is vital to note that 62% of the participants expressed that prescribed herbal medicine is safe. Overall, this research demonstrates a high prevalence of KM usage by intercollegiate, professional, and national team athletes in Korea. Hence, this study’s results may serve as the foundation in future research directions for promoting KM among Korean elite athletes.


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