PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Complementary Therapies”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

How to implement complementary therapies for laboring women.

Complementary therapies have been a part of nursing practice for centuries and are supported today as a part of nursing practice by many state boards of nursing. Some of these modalities can be used by nurses as a part of their comprehensive plan of labor support for women during the childbirth experience. This article describes five complementary therapies (aromatherapy, massage, use of birth balls, music therapy, and hydrotherapy), and how one large Midwestern hospital system implemented an educational program for nurses that helped them integrate complementary therapies into their nursing care for laboring women.

Aromatherapy↗
PubMed2005

Psychological characteristics of cancer patients who use complementary therapies.

There has been considerable research on the prevalence and demographic profile of cancer patients who opt to supplement conventional therapies with the use of complementary therapy. There is rather less information on the personality and adjustment variables associated with the decision to use complementary therapy. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the use of complementary therapies by cancer patients and their mental adjustment to cancer, recovery locus of control, life orientation and psychopathology. Two groups were drawn from a regional centre which provides both conventional and complementary cancer treatments. Participants in Group 1 (n = 61) opted for complementary therapies in addition to conventional treatments for cancer, while participants in Group 2 (n = 56), chose conventional treatment only. All participants completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC), the Recovery Locus of Control Scale (RLOC), the life orientation test (LOT), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Information regarding demographic details and patients' motivation for the use of complementary therapy was also collected. Those people who chose complementary therapy demonstrated a mental adjustment to cancer which is characterised by significantly higher levels of fighting spirit and anxious preoccupation. This group had also a higher internal recovery locus of control than those receiving conventional treatment alone. There were no significant differences between the groups on life orientation or psychopathology. The findings of this study do not support the argument that the use of complementary therapy is associated with higher levels of psychopathology and distress. However, the data do indicate that for some patients the use of complementary therapy fulfils an important psychological need. The finding that psychosocial variables like fighting spirit and locus of control may impact on an individual's therapeutic choice can assist clinicians in tailoring interventions to personality and adjustment characteristics.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

Becoming a reflective nurse or midwife: using complementary therapies while practising holistically.

Complementary therapies augment nursing and midwidfery practice, but they do not necessarily make it holistic, nor is that practice guaranteed of being based on systematic reflection. This article argues the need for holistic nursing and midwifery to be based on reflective processes, enabling continual development and renewal of the person and practitioner. Practical hints are suggested to assist nurses and midwives in becoming reflective, thereby increasing the likelihood of incorporating complementary therapies while practising holistically.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1996

The rising popularity of complementary therapies.

The range of complementary therapies available has increased. The treatments offered may improve the 'whole' person but not the 'part' which is diseased. Inquiry into the length and type of training of therapists is needed to ensure ethical practice. Recognition of the usefulness of some complementary therapies by orthodox medical practitioners is slowly increasing. Caution should continue to be exercised.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2001

Complementary therapies in palliative cancer care.

BACKGROUND: Complementary medicine has become an important aspect of palliative cancer care. This overview is primarily aimed at providing guidance to clinicians regarding some commonly used complementary therapies. METHODS: Several complementary therapies were identified as particularly relevant to palliative cancer care. Exemplary studies and, where available, systematic reviews are discussed. RESULTS: Promising results exist for some treatments, e.g. acupuncture, enzyme therapy, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, and relaxation techniques. Unfortunately, the author finds that the evidence is not compelling for any of these therapies. CONCLUSION: These results point to some potential for complementary medicine in palliative care. They also demonstrate an urgent need for more rigorous research into the value (or otherwise) of such treatments in palliative and supportive cancer care.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2006

Levels of commitment: exploring complementary therapy use by women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Previous research on complementary therapy use in populations of patients with breast cancer has failed to differentiate among the different types of therapies and utilization patterns, resulting in wide discrepancies in prevalence rates. The purpose of this study was to develop more refined and rigorous estimates of the prevalence of complementary therapy use in women with breast cancer and their level of commitment to complementary therapy. DESIGN AND SAMPLE/SETTING: Using a cross-sectional, retrospective survey design, a random sample of 334 women with breast cancer was drawn from a Canadian provincial cancer registry. Using an intensive therapy inventory, women were asked to indicate the therapies and practices they had used since cancer diagnosis, frequency of use, amount of effort associated with using each therapy, and financial cost of therapy use. RESULTS: A substantial proportion of women with breast cancer were found to be using complementary therapies, with between 19.5% (most conservative estimate) and 79.9% (liberal estimate) of the women reporting the use of at least one complementary therapy following diagnosis. While the majority of therapies were used on a daily basis, a minimal amount of effort and finances was expended on complementary therapy use. Using two-way cluster analysis, two homogenous groups of complementary therapy users were identified based on level of commitment to complementary therapy use. Women with a low commitment to complementary therapy use comprised 73.9% of the sample and were more likely to be older and report less education than women with a moderate-to-high commitment to complementary therapy use. CONCLUSIONS: The use of complementary therapies by women with breast cancer warrants more precise measurement to accurately capture the types of complementary therapies used and the level of commitment to complementary therapy use. The findings of this study point to the value of the concept of commitment in identifying individuals willing to commit substantial time, energy and financial resources to complementary therapy use.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The use of randomized control trials in complementary therapies: exploring the issues.

The current popularity of complementary therapies presents an interesting challenge to nurses and midwives. If they are to deliver such therapies themselves, or support patients in choosing appropriate therapies they will need to consider the professional and legal issues, in particular those regarding safety. Evidence for the effectiveness for complementary therapies is also a requirement in order that their integration into nursing practice can be justified. Purchasers are currently hampered by the lack of credible evidence for effectiveness and until that evidence is provided, access to such therapies through the National Health Service (NHS) will remain limited. The form that evidence should take has led to a lively debate about possible methodological approaches. There appears to be a clash between the medical profession and those working in the field of complementary therapy research, with the medical establishment advocating randomized control trials (RCTs). This contrasts with the view held by some advocates of complementary therapies that the RCT approach is reductionist and not applicable to such approaches. The pivot of the debate on the methodological approaches for evaluating complementary therapies is the contrast of two apparently different and diverse world-views, and the assertion that methods developed in one world-view are not transferable to the other. There is also some confusion within the field of complementary therapy over the applicability of RCTs to therapies such as acupuncture, and the mistaken assumption that trials which include a control group, are also required to be double-blind. This paper is based on the need for good quality evidence of effectiveness in complementary therapy. It will set out the concerns associated with the use of RCTs within complementary therapy, together with the benefits and limitations of this approach. The paper will go on to review research options and propose some suggestions for future methodological approaches.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1999

Complementary therapies and cancer care: an overview.

The use of complementary therapies by patients with cancer is increasingly common, despite limited evidence for their efficacy and safety. The widespread use of complementary therapies has major implications for research and practice. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding issues related to the use of complementary therapies by patients with cancer. So far, complementary therapies have not been defined very well, which makes it difficult to assess the precise extent of their use. The difference in philosophy underlying conventional and complementary treatments appears to contribute to the attractiveness of complementary therapies. Conventional medical practitioners are beginning to recognize the importance of many of the elements of this philosophy, which is evidenced in the patient-centered model. Explaining how patients with cancer make the decision to use complementary therapies has been the subject of many studies. However, as yet, no formal theory of decision making has been developed. Communication between patients and physicians about complementary therapies is an important part of the patients' decision-making process. Many gaps can be identified in knowledge of complementary therapy use by patients with cancer. Not only is there a need to increase knowledge by conducting more research and improving the research infrastructure, but attention should also be paid to information dissemination, education, and planning and development of health policies.

Communication↗
PubMed2006

Being in tune with life: complementary therapy use and well-being in residential hospice residents.

UNLABELLED: Complementary therapies are commonly used by the public. Increasingly, complementary therapies are being used in hospices for symptom management; however, little research is available on their effect on patient well-being. PURPOSE: This study explores experiences of 15 hospice residents who received complementary therapies and describes the hospice cultural patterns where complementary therapies were delivered. METHOD: Ethnography was used to guide data collection. Data were collected by participant observations, formal and informal interviews, and complementary therapy charts in a residential hospice during 9 months. FINDINGS: Three themes of experiencing complementary therapies, reconnecting to life through caring, and presence in relationship were uncovered during data analysis. IMPLICATIONS: Study results suggest that presence may be more important to the patient's well-being than the physical responses of complementary therapies. Also, a caring culture may influence staff job satisfaction and retention.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Complementary therapy use among HIV-infected patients.

This study investigates factors associated with the self-reported use of complementary therapies, types of therapies used, and sources of complementary therapy information among HIV-positive patients attending a public, HIV outpatient clinic in New Orleans. A convenience sample of 287 clients (220 men and 67 women) was given a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Overall, complementary therapy use was 31%. Patients who used complementary therapy were more likely to be white (O.R., 2.5), female (O.R. 3.3), a high school graduate (O.R. 2.9), and to know another complementary therapy user (O.R. 7.8). Age, sexual orientation, CD4 cell count, injection drug use, living with another HIV-infected person, having pain, and HIV support group membership were not associated. Men were more likely than women, and whites were more likely than nonwhites, to use vitamins/minerals, imagery/meditation, and dietary regimens. Nonwhites were more likely than whites, and women more likely than men, to use spiritual healing. Of those using complementary therapy, men were more likely than women, and whites more likely than nonwhites, to get information about complementary therapy from HIV organizations, friends, and homosexual-oriented media. Doctors and nurses were the most frequently cited source of complementary therapy information for women. Frequency, type of therapies used, and source of information about complementary therapy among HIV-infected persons vary by race and gender. Clinicians should be educated about complementary therapies so that they can provide information to their patients and be aware of self-treatment behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Factors predisposing to the resort of complementary therapies in patients with fibromyalgia.

This study examined the factors influencing the use of complementary therapies in patients with fibromyalgia. A postal questionnaire was sent to 90 patients who had attended a rheumatology out-patient clinic in West Yorkshire for their diagnosis or treatment of fibromyalgia. Seventy-one percent of fibromyalgia patients had used or were using complementary therapies. Patients who were using complementary therapies were of a higher socio-economic group (p < 0.001). The most popular therapy was oral supplementation. The duration of complementary therapies ranged from 3 months to 26 years (median = 3). The number of therapies used by each patient ranged from 1 to 10 (median = 3). The duration of fibromyalgia was associated with both the duration of complementary therapies (p < 0.001) and the number of therapies used (p < 0.05). The most popular source of advice for the decision to use complementary therapies was from a magazine (40%). Patients using complementary therapies were less likely to be satisfied with their current hospital treatment and turned to complementary therapies in the chance of relief from their fibromyalgia. The relatively high cost and lack of information on complementary therapies appeared to dissuade those patients who chose not to use it.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1994

Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To determine what proportion of oncology patients receiving conventional medical treatment also use complementary treatments; to assess which complementary treatments are the most popular and to assess patients' motivation for using them; to evaluate associated advantages and risks. DESIGN: Postal screening questionnaire followed by semistructured interview. SETTING: Two hospitals in inner London. SUBJECTS: 600 unselected oncology patients aged 18 or over who had known their diagnosis of cancer for at least three months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and demography of use of complementary therapies; patients' motivation and expectations of complementary therapies; areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction associated with conventional and complementary therapies. RESULTS: 415 (69%) patients returned the questionnaire. 16% had used complementary therapies. The most popular were healing, relaxation, visualisation, diets, homoeopathy, vitamins, herbalism, and the Bristol approach. Patients using complementary therapies tended to be younger, of higher social class, and female. Three quarters used two or more therapies. Therapies were mostly used for anticipated antitumour effect. Ill effects of diets and herb treatments were described. Satisfaction with both conventional and complementary therapies was high, although diets often caused difficulties. Patients using complementary therapies were less satisfied with conventional treatments, largely because of side effects and lack of hope of cure. Benefits of complementary therapies were mainly psychological. CONCLUSIONS: A sizeable percentage of patients receiving conventional treatments for cancer also use complementary therapies. Patient satisfaction with complementary therapies, other than dietary therapies, was high even without the hoped for anticancer effect. Patients reported psychological benefits such as hope and optimism.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2003

Mental disorders and reasons for using complementary therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare patients with and without mental disorders who seek services from a complementary therapy practitioner with regard to quality of life, reasons for seeking complementary therapies, complaints, and physical conditions. METHOD: We studied new patients who attended a complementary therapy clinic offering acupuncture treatment between July 1, 1993, and March 31, 1995. We collected data from a self-administered questionnaire and from a physician-conducted psychiatric assessment. RESULTS: Of the 826 new patients at the clinic, 578 (70%) presented with a mental disorder. Patients with a mental disorder perceived their quality of life as poorer and reported greater levels of stress than did those without a mental disorder. However, the groups did not differ in their self-reported reasons for seeking complementary therapies, in their complaints, or in their physical conditions. Among patients with a mental disorder, the major reasons for choosing complementary therapies were personal preference, interest, or belief in complementary therapies (44.3%) and perceiving complementary therapies as a last resort (30.7%). Most patients with a mental disorder saw a complementary practitioner for musculoskeletal and connective-tissue disorders (44.1%), fatigue (26.6%), and headache (15.2%). The most frequent physical illnesses among patients with a mental disorder were diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (42.6%). CONCLUSION: Like their counterparts without a mental disorder, individuals with a mental disorder use complementary therapies because of personal beliefs. The wide use of complementary therapies among individuals with a mental disorder may be ascribed to a poor quality of life and high levels of distress.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Determinants of complementary therapy use in HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral or anti-opportunistic agents.

OBJECTIVE: To identify sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of persons using complementary therapy in an HIV/AIDS drug treatment program and to evaluate the associations between complementary therapy use and participant characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using program participants who completed an annual participant survey between 09/95 and 06/96. Surveys gathered data on use and motivations for use of complementary therapies. Complementary therapies included dietary, medicinal, tactile, and relaxation therapies. Statistical analyses were carried out using parametric and nonparametric measures and multivariate logistic analyses. Multivariate modeling considered age, income, education, time spent out of bed, and degree of pain as independent variables against complementary therapy use (Yes versus No). All reported p values are two-sided. RESULTS: A total of 657 participants completed an annual participant survey within the study period. Of these, 256 participants (39%) had ever used complementary therapies. Univariate analysis indicated that 195 patients (30%) had used dietary supplements, 141 (22%) had used herbal and other medicinal therapies, 145 (22%) had used tactile therapies, and 128 (20%) had used mental relaxation techniques. Multivariate analysis indicated that complementary use was independently associated with younger median age (p = .003), income >$7,300 U.S. (p = .014), having greater physical pain (p = .003), and a university education (p = .002). CONCLUSION: Use of complementary therapies in conjunction with HIV/AIDS medications appears to be most prevalent in young and highly educated individuals and to be associated with the debilitating and chronic nature of HIV disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

The award winning "Completing the circle" complementary therapy service initiative at Christie NHS Hospital Manchester.

The complementary therapy team at the Christie Hospital has won a highly prestigious national Prince of Wales award. The award is for "Good Practice in Integrated Healthcare" and applauds the hospital for including complementary therapies as part of patient care at the Christie. His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales presented The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Healthcare Award to Christie staff at Lambeth Hospital in London on the 11th December 2003 (see picture). The Gateway Clinic at Lambeth Hospital jointly won the award (reference here to a future publication). The Christie Hospital started providing complementary therapies 7 years ago, and the service has greatly expanded in the last 3 years. Patients can choose a complementary therapy treatment in addition to their medical treatment. A 15-strong complementary therapy team provides back and head massages, reflexology and other treatments. The paper reports on the various aspects of the project, identifying who leads each part and how it is being developed and evaluated.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Complementing your care: about the special interest groups. Part I--RCN complementary therapies forum.

Supports the integration of appropriate complementary therapies into healthcare. Encourages the use of evidence-based practice. Promotes the development of appropriate education for nurses wishing to use complementary therapies in their practice. Encourages its members to raise public awareness of the potential benefits and possible areas of concern relating to the use of complementary therapies.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1999

Beyond convention: describing complementary therapy use by women living with breast cancer.

Using a descriptive survey design, 52 women living with breast cancer were interviewed to explore their use of complementary therapy and the relationships between complementary therapy use and key demographic variables and health beliefs. Sixty-seven percent of the women reported complementary therapy use, with meditation/relaxation therapies, vitamins and spiritual healing being the three most frequently reported treatments. Women using complementary therapies were more likely to have completed post-secondary education than women using only conventional medical treatment (chi 2 = 7.1, P = 0.008). Preferred decisional role was found to be significantly associated with the use of complementary therapies (chi 2 = 11.7, P = 0.003); women using complementary therapies preferred a more active/collaborative role in treatment decisions than women using only conventional medical treatment. No significant associations were found between complementary therapy use and beliefs about cause of cancer, treatments, satisfaction with health care providers, and perceived quality of life. The findings point to the pervasiveness of complementary therapy use by women living with breast cancer and contradict past research which has supported a distinct demographic profile of complementary therapy users and associated belief system.

Adaptation, Psychological↗