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PubMed2005

The spiritual encounter within a complementary therapy treatment.

Interest in both spirituality and complementary therapies is growing, with their inclusion in both daily life and in health care. The concept of spirituality and the delivery of a therapy have a certain synergy as they both espouse a view of the world that recognises the importance of the whole person. Increasingly, clients want their values and beliefs attended to, perhaps choosing a therapy as a pathway to nourish their sense of the spiritual. Consequently working in a holistic way the complementary therapist needs to acknowledge the spiritual dimension of the client. Integral to this is how the therapeutic encounter facilitates this engagement and how important it is that the therapist develops and explores their own spirituality and life values. This article is an exploration of how spirituality and complementary therapies can legitimately work together, creating a sacred space for both therapist and client.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2002

Characteristics of Victorian general practitioners who practise complementary therapies.

BACKGROUND: To compare the characteristics of Victorian general practitioners who practise and do not practise complementary therapies. METHOD: A self administered postal survey sent to 800 Victorian GPs. RESULTS: The response rate was 64%. There were no statistically significant differences between complementary therapy practitioners and nonpractitioners in the number of patients seen per week, urban versus rural location, solo versus group practice or Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. In some complementary therapies, practising GPs tended to be male, full time and older. DISCUSSION: Victorian GPs who practise complementary therapies are on the whole not from the fringes of the medical community. The reasons why GPs include complementary therapies in their practice cannot be answered by this study.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1999

The integration of complementary therapies in North and South Thames Regional Health Authorities' critical care units.

Subsequent to the rising interest in complementary therapies, a survey was conducted to determine the extent of integration of complementary therapies in critical care units in the North and South Thames Regional Health Authorities in the Greater London area. In total, 45 critical care units were surveyed at random. The results of the survey indicated Neonatal Intensive Care Units showed the greatest interest and provision (75%) of complementary therapies. This was primarily in the application of baby massage. In contrast, only 10% of Coronary Care Units surveyed provided complementary therapies. Results further indicated that of 51.1% of critical care units which claimed to provide complementary therapies, only 7% provided interventions on a routine, systematic basis.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Factors predicting the use of complementary therapies in a multi-ethnic sample of early-stage breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: to examine predictors of use of complementary therapies reported by women who had also received standard medical treatment for early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: A volunteer sample of 231 black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white patients with early-stage breast cancer (diagnosed within the preceding year) reported their use of complementary therapies. We examined predictors of the use of each therapy from among a set of demographic and quality of life measures. RESULTS: Most women reported using 1 complementary therapy or more, most commonly psychotherapy, support groups, meditation, and spiritual healing. Use of psychotherapy related to age, education, and elevated distress. Use of other complementary therapies was not related to distress. More black than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white patients used herbal therapies and spiritual healing. Use of complementary therapies did not relate to expectation of recurrence, dissatisfaction with medical care, or (among relevant patients) concerns about the consequences of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Use of healing therapies that do not replace medical treatment should be viewed as attempts to increase potential benefit and not as signs of distress or dissatisfaction. Use of complementary therapies also varies across racial and ethnic groups.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Complementary therapies and the general practitioner. A survey of Perth GPs.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes and referral patterns of general practitioners (GPs) toward 10 specific complementary therapies. METHOD: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional postal survey, conducted between July 1998 and August 1998 inclusive. A random selection of 200 male and 200 female Western Australian GPs residing in Perth and listed in the Australian Medical Association database file of registered GPs. RESULTS: The response rate was 74.8% (n = 282). Over 90% of these GPs reported having been approached by more than 30 patients seeking their advice about complementary therapies in the past nine months. The majority of these patients were women, over the age of 35 years. Ten complementary therapies were listed in the questionnaire: acupuncture, hypnosis, meditation, spinal manipulation, yoga, homeopathy, herbal medicine, naturopathy, massage and aromatherapy. Just under half (132) of the respondents had undertaken studies in at least one of the listed complementary therapies, with over 60% reporting a wish for further training. Overall, 67.8% (191) of all respondents reported they were in favour of GP referrals to complementary therapists. However, 56.1% (158) were against complementary therapies being included in rebates for private health insurance. Overall, 75.0% (211) of GPs surveyed had already formally referred a patient to one or more of the listed therapies, the most frequent of these being acupuncture, massage, meditation, hypnosis and spinal manipulation as a part of their overall medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Perth GPs have a high level of interest in complementary therapies. Government regulation and registration of complementary therapies is seen by GPs as important in order to ensure professional standards of practice. Given the high level of interest, provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education in complementary therapies could be considered. In addition, the development of clinical guidelines would be of benefit.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Personal and professional use of complementary therapies by nurses in NSW, Australia.

In this study, we investigate the personal and professional use of complementary therapies by nurses in NSW, Australia. We found that the therapies and products used by respondents were similar to those used by the general population. Seventy-four percent of respondents had used a complementary therapy in the last year and 38% had used them with a patient. In addition, 67% indicated that they would refer to a complementary practitioner. Respondents were also found to have favourable views of complementary therapies with 85% believing they improve quality of life and only 0.8% indicating they serve no purpose. No major differences were seen between respondents residing in the city vs those in regional areas. The data from this study support the view that nurses are high users of complementary therapies and that they may be the health profession most open to the use of complementary therapies as an integral part of normal health care.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of complementary therapies in midwifery in the UK.

Midwives in the United Kingdom (UK) are autonomous, independent practitioners and the lead professionals in normal pregnancy and childbirth. Changing Childbirth, a government report, gave a recommendation that women should have continuity of care. Midwives have recognized the ability to implement complementary therapies in health care and have succeeded in forming the Complementary Therapies in Maternity Care National Forum (May 1988). The National Health Service Confederation identified midwives as the highest users of complementary therapies in the health care services. Midwives are in a position to incorporate complementary therapies into their practice in conjunction with the rules and guidelines promulgated by the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Visiting. Highlighting the Complementary Therapies in Maternity Care National Forum underscores the increased use of therapies by midwives in the UK. Documentation of complementary therapies used in midwifery practice has resulted in some evidence-based practice for reference. Caseload midwifery (the progressive approach of smaller teams of midwives, who are community-based) and education can play key roles in integrating complementary therapies into midwifery, providing women with more choice, and achieving greater client satisfaction from the childbirth experience. Success is also dependent on government commitment and involvement.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developing a complementary therapy policy.

Increasingly, healthcare professionals from a variety of settings are looking to integrate complementary therapies into mainstream healthcare. Robust policy development is a prerequisite for effective integration and the building of sustainable services. Unfortunately many of those wanting to drive forward the complementary therapy agenda have little knowledge of policy development. For those individuals planning to integrate complementary therapies into care, this article will address some of the issues around developing a complementary therapy policy: the need for a robust policy, how to begin developing a policy and suggested inclusions for such a policy.

Advisory Committees↗

PubMed2006

Cost-effectiveness of complementary therapies in the United kingdom-a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review is to systematically summarize and assess all prospective, controlled, cost-effectiveness studies of complementary therapies carried out in the UK. DATA SOURCES: Medline (via PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, Amed (Alternative and Allied Medicine Database, British Library Medical Information Centre), The Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (via Cochrane) and Health Technology Assessments up to October 2005. REVIEW METHODS: Articles describing prospective, controlled, cost-effectiveness studies of any type of complementary therapy for any medical condition carried out in the UK were included. Data extracted included the main outcomes for health benefit and cost. These data were extracted independently by two authors, described narratively and also presented as a table. RESULTS: Six cost-effectiveness studies of complementary medicine in the UK were identified: four different types of spinal manipulation for back pain, one type of acupuncture for chronic headache and one type of acupuncture for chronic back pain. Four of the six studies compared the complementary therapy with usual conventional treatment in pragmatic, randomized clinical trials without sham or placebo arms. Main outcome measures of effectiveness favored the complementary therapies but in the case of spinal manipulation (four studies) and acupuncture (one study) for back pain, effect sizes were small and of uncertain clinical relevance. The same four studies included a cost-utility analyses in which the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) was less than pound10 000. The complementary therapy represented an additional health care cost in five of the six studies. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective, controlled, cost-effectiveness studies of complementary therapies have been carried out in the UK only for spinal manipulation (four studies) and acupuncture (two studies). The limited data available indicate that the use of these therapies usually represents an additional cost to conventional treatment. Estimates of the incremental cost of achieving improvements in quality of life compare favorably with other treatments approved for use in the National Health Service. Because the specific efficacy of the complementary therapies for these indications remains uncertain, and the studies did not include sham controls, the estimates obtained may represent the cost-effectiveness non-specific effects associated with the complementary therapies.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Complementary therapies: an adjunct to traditional therapies.

Many Americans currently use complementary therapies, and there is a growing interest among others in trying these therapies in the future. Large amounts of money are being spent out of pocket on these measures. Health care provide these treatments to their patients. Research studies show that these methods are helpful for certain complaints. Many people turn to alternatives because traditional medical treatments do not always cure their ills. These alternatives are readily available to consumers who often lack knowledge of them. NPs are in a position to monitor and educate the public in their use. NPs, by the nature of their practice and theory base, are also in a position to incorporate some alternative therapies into their practices -- and they can start with some of the therapies described in this article. With further study, such therapies as Chinese herbs, homeopathy, massage, biofeedback, and therapeutic touch can be added.

Aromatherapy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dermatologic manifestations of complementary therapy.

The dermatologic manifestations of complementary therapy include reactions to herbs used orally and topically for treating skin disease, cutaneous reactions to drugs used orally and topically for treating other diseases, and reactions to alternative interventions. The safety of alternative medicine is in question. Unlike approved drugs, the quality, efficacy, and safety of herbal medicines is not regulated. Herbal medicines may be misidentified and contaminated with a variety of substances. The following review identifies and categorizes therapies according to their common uses with their adverse reactions.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1999

Cancer patients' expectations of the role of family physicians in communication about complementary therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To explore cancer patients' experiences with and expectations of the role of family physicians in communication about complementary therapies. DESIGN: Focus group interviews. SETTING: British Columbia Cancer Agency and the University of Calgary. PARTICIPANTS: Sample of 14 cancer patients using complementary therapies comprising 3 focus groups (2 in BC and 1 in Alberta). RESULTS: The role of family physicians in discussing complementary therapies varied from being extraneous to patients' decision making to being a partner in making decisions about cancer treatments. Patients expected their physicians to be supportive, caring, kind and to show an interest in them. They also expected their physicians to be accepting and nonjudgmental regarding complementary therapy use and to reinforce a sense of hope. Most patients did not expect their doctors to have extensive knowledge about these therapies. All patients strongly felt the need to seek information themselves. In addition, they felt that believing in the type of therapies they were using was very important. CONCLUSION: Family physicians can play an important role in exploring and discussing complementary therapies with their patients. It is important that they are made aware of their patients' needs in this area.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Patterns of complementary therapy use by homebound cancer patients in Taiwan.

This study explores the use of complementary therapy and factors associated with the use of such therapies by cancer patients in Taiwan who were receiving surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy and lived at home. Data were collected by purposive sampling and analyzed by chi-square testing. Subjects (N = 137) from two Taipei area hospital-based oncology centers were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Sixty percent of the total sample used complementary therapies. Variables, such as gender, duration of illness, diagnostic stages, chemotherapy, and symptoms distress, were significantly (p <.05) related to the use of complementary therapies. Western health professionals need to know what complementary therapies their clients are using so that they can respond appropriately to questions raised by their clients, as well as help them to acknowledge diverse kinds of treatment in their therapeutic plans.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Patient-physician communication regarding use of complementary therapies during cancer treatment.

It is estimated that as many as 80% of adult cancer patients use at least one form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) during or after conventional treatment. Studies of physician-patient communication about the use of CAM have concluded that patients frequently do not tell their oncologists about their use of CAM and physicians consistently underestimate the numbers of their patients using CAM. The purpose of this multi-site study was to assess newly diagnosed cancer patients' and oncologists' communication practices with regard to complementary therapies. Patients (106 breast and 82 prostate) indicated which of 45 complementary therapies they were using while physicians at their institutions indicated which they supported. It is noted that, although we use the popular acronym "CAM" all patients surveyed were receiving conventional medical treatment. Thus, the survey addressed complementary therapies only. A large majority (84%) indicated they were using at least one therapy with the most popular being exercise, vitamins, prayer, and nutritional supplements. Surprisingly, the oncologists surveyed were generally enthusiastic and supportive of patients' use of complementary therapies. In addition to those therapies popular with patients, at least half the physicians supported massage, journal writing, support groups, acupuncture, biofeedback, and art therapy. However, discussions of CAM are relatively rare and most likely to be initiated by patients. When the topic is discussed, both patients and doctors say it usually enhances their relationship. Implications for CAM program development and oncology professionals' roles in patient education regarding complementary therapies are presented.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nature as a complementary therapy for women.

Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of complementary therapies is a challenge for nurses. Many people enjoy spending time in nature. The purpose of this article is to examine the theoretical and empirical evidence for using nature as a complementary therapy to rest and restore one's ability to concentrate. As women become active participants in their health care, a complementary therapy to restore and maintain concentration may help promote self-care.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

PubMed1997

On the front line. Nursing and complementary therapies.

Wide-range of complementary therapies are being used by nurses to deal with the health issues encountered in standard nursing practice. The Lamp looks at some hands-on examples-the soothing jets of the hydrobath, the healing power of music, the pain relief given by therapeutic massage and the efficacy of essential oils.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Working complementary therapies into mainstream health care.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is speculative and practitioners and policy makers question its validity in the care of people within the NHS. However, increasing numbers of people are using private CAM therapists to address their health needs. This has consequences in terms of cost to the patient, of using CAM instead of traditional health care, and for policy makers and educators raises questions of competency, regulation and research to validate its efficacy. This article provides a personal account of a nurse educator's discovery of homeopathy as a complementary therapy, its impact upon health status, training undertaken and action taken as a result. It outlines the potential use of CAM as a holistic approach that embraces the interprofessional framework and suggests CAM practitioner inclusion within mainstream healthcare provision. The article emphasizes the need for further quantitative and qualitative research of CAM treatment.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2005

Clinical trials with complementary therapies.

As interest in complementary and alternative therapies grows, nurses can expect to be asked for advice regarding their use, but there are few clinical studies on which nurses can base their responses. Conducting research with complementary therapies is therefore important for nursing, but there are some pitfalls in doing research with these products, particularly if one is using standard clinical-trials methods. In this article, the authors outline some of those pitfalls based on their experience conducting a clinical trial to examine the effects of elk velvet antler on symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. They discuss design issues related to justification, method, and ethics and explore some important regulatory issues of which nurses should be aware. Some recommendations are presented to help nurses engaging in such research to avoid problems that could interfere with the smooth conduct of their studies.

Clinical Nursing Research↗