Complementary, Alternative And Integrative Medicine Research Articles

Open science practices among authors published in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine journals: An international, cross-sectional survey.

Open science practices aim to increase transparency in research and increase research availability through open data, open access platforms, and public access. Due to the increasing popularity of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) research, our study aims to explore current open science practices and perceived barriers among CAIM researchers in their own respective research articles. We conducted an international cross-sectional online survey that was sent to authors that published articles in MEDLINE-indexed journals categorized under the broad subject of "Complementary Therapies" or articles indexed under the MeSH term "Complementary Therapies." Articles were extracted to obtain the names and emails of all corresponding authors. Eight thousand seven hundred eighty-six researchers were emailed our survey, which included questions regarding participants' familiarity with open science practices, their open science practices, and perceived barriers to open science in CAIM with respect to participants' most recently published article. Basic descriptive statistics was generated based on the quantitative data. The survey was completed by 292 participants (3.32% response rate). Results indicate that the majority of participants were "very familiar" (n = 83, 31.68%) or "moderately familiar" (n = 83, 31.68%) with the concept of open science practices while creating their study. Open access publishing was the most familiar to participants, with 51.96% (n = 136) of survey respondents publishing with open access. Despite participants being familiar with other open science practices, the actual implementation of these practices was low. Common barriers participants experienced in implementing open science practices include not knowing where to share the study materials, where to share the data, or not knowing how to make a preprint. Although participants responded that they were familiar with the concept of open science practices, the actual implementation and uses of these practices were low. Barriers included a lack of overall knowledge about open science, and an overall lack of funding or institutional support. Future efforts should aim to explore how to implement methods to improve open science training for CAIM researchers.

A large-scale, international cross-sectional survey of published pediatrics authors: Perceptions of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine

BackgroundThe use of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) is commonly used among pediatric patients for various conditions. Pediatrics clinicians’ and researchers’ perceptions towards the incorporation of CAIM therapies have varied. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of both pediatrics researchers and clinicians regarding CAIM. MethodsWe conducted a large-scale, international cross-sectional online survey with published pediatrics authors who have published their work in pediatrics medical journals that are indexed in MEDLINE. In total, 34 494 researchers and clinicians were invited to complete the survey. The survey recorded respondents’ perceptions on various CAIM therapies. Descriptive statistics were generated from the quantitative survey results. A thematic analysis was conducted for responses to open ended questions. ResultsIn total, 731 pediatrics clinicians and/or researchers responded to the survey, with about half of the respondents being faculty members/principal investigators (56.10 %) and/or clinicians (43.45 %) and from the Americas (46.56 %) or Europe (30.53 %). Over half of the respondents viewed mind-body therapies favourably (62.01 %) and the fewest respondents held favourable perceptions of biofield therapies (6.98 %). Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that there is value in conducting further research on CAIM therapies (85.52 %) and disagreed or strongly disagreed that they felt comfortable recommending most CAIM therapies to patients (64.83 %). A thematic analysis of our findings demonstrates that many pediatrics clinicians and/or researchers support further research on CAIM. ConclusionThe findings from this study demonstrate that pediatrics clinicians and researchers have varying perceptions towards CAIM therapies. Respondents had the most positive perceptions of mind-body therapies and felt they did not have adequate training on CAIM. Further research is needed to establish more evidence-based educational resources on CAIM.

Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine researchers' practices and perceived barriers related to open science: An international, cross-sectional survey.

Open science (OS) aims to make the dissemination of knowledge and the research process transparent and accessible to everyone. With the increasing popularity of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM), our goal was to explore what are CAIM researchers' practices and perceived barriers related to OS. We conducted an anonymous online survey of researchers who published in journals listed in Scopus containing the words "complementary", "alternative", or "integrative" medicine in their names. We emailed 6040 researchers our purpose-built electronic survey after extracting their email address from one of their publications in our sample of journals. We questioned their familiarity with different OS concepts, along with their experiences and challenges engaging in these practices over the last 12 months. The survey was completed by 392 researchers (6.5% response rate, 97.1% completion rate). Most respondents were CAIM researchers familiar with the overall concept of OS, indicated by those actively publishing open access (OA) (n = 244, 76.0%), registering a study protocol (n = 148, 48.0%), and using reporting guidelines (n = 181, 59.0%) in the past 12 months. Preprinting, sharing raw data, and sharing study materials were less popular. A lack of funding was reported as the greatest barrier to publishing OA by most respondents (n = 252, 79.0%), and that additional funding is the most significant incentive in applying more OS practices to their research (n = 229,72.2%). With respect to preprinting barriers, 36.3% (n = 110) participants believed there are potential harms in sharing non-peer-reviewed work and 37.0% (n = 112) feared preprinting would reduce the likelihood of their manuscript being accepted by a journal. Respondents were also concerned about intellectual property control regarding sharing data (n = 94, 31.7%) and research study materials (n = 80, 28.7%). Although many participants were familiar with and practiced aspects of OS, many reported facing barriers relating to lack of funding to enable OS and perceived risks of revealing research ideas and data prior to publication. Future research should monitor the adoption and implementation of OS interventions in CAIM.

Investigating the nature of open science practices across complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine journals: An audit.

Open science practices are implemented across many scientific fields to improve transparency and reproducibility in research. Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) is a growing field that may benefit from adoption of open science practices. The efficacy and safety of CAIM practices, a popular concern with the field, can be validated or refuted through transparent and reliable research. Investigating open science practices across CAIM journals by using the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) guidelines can potentially promote open science practices across CAIM journals. The purpose of this study is to conduct an audit that compares and ranks open science practices adopted by CAIM journals against TOP guidelines laid out by the Center for Open Science (COS). CAIM-specific journals with titles containing the words "complementary", "alternative" and/or "integrative" were included in this audit. Each of the eight TOP criteria were used to extract open science practices from each of the CAIM journals. Data was summarized by the TOP guideline and ranked using the TOP Factor to identify commonalities and differences in practices across the included journals. A total of 19 CAIM journals were included in this audit. Across all journals, the mean TOP Factor was 2.95 with a median score of 2. The findings of this study reveal high variability among the open science practices required by journals in this field. Four journals (21%) had a final TOP score of 0, while the total scores of the remaining 15 (79%) ranged from 1 to 8. While several studies have audited open science practices across discipline-specific journals, none have focused on CAIM journals. The results of this study indicate that CAIM journals provide minimal guidelines to encourage or require authors to adhere to open science practices and there is an opportunity to improve the use of open science practices in the field.

Characteristics of bibliometric analyses of the complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine literature: A scoping review protocol

Background: There is a growing body of literature on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM), which offers a holistic approach to health and the maintenance of social and cultural values. Bibliometric analyses are an increasingly commonly used method employing quantitative statistical techniques to understand trends in a particular scientific field. The objective of this scoping review is to investigate the quantity and characteristics of evidence in relation to bibliometric analyses of CAIM literature. Methods: The following bibliographic databases will be searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. Studies published in English, conducting any type of bibliometric analysis involving any CAIM therapies, as detailed by an operational definition of CAIM adopted by Cochrane Complementary Medicine, will be included. Conference abstracts and study protocols will be excluded. The following variables will be extracted from included studies: title, author, year, country, study objective, type of CAIM, health condition targeted, databases searched in the bibliometric analysis, the type of bibliometric variables assessed, how bibliometric information was reported, main findings, conclusions, and limitations. Findings will be summarized narratively, as well as in tabular and graphical format. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this scoping review will be the first to investigate the characteristics of evidence in relation to bibliometric analyses on CAIM literature. The findings of this review may be useful to identify variations in the objectives, methods, and results of bibliometric analyses of CAIM research literature.

Assessing the quality of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine website information for cancer: A cross-sectional survey and analysis

IntroductionPatients with cancer frequently utilize complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM); prior to this, many seek information about these therapies online. Little is known about the quality of this web-based consumer health information. Our study aimed to address this paucity of research by evaluating the quality of CAIM consumer health information on websites discussing the treatment and/or management of cancer. MethodsSix search terms were entered into Google across four English-speaking countries (Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia) on January 4, 2023. The first 20 results of each search were assessed and included if they contained CAIM consumer health information for the treatment and/or management of cancer. Eligible websites were assessed using the 16-item DISCERN instrument, designed to evaluate information quality. ResultsOf 480 identified websites, 393 were duplicates, and 48 fit the eligibility criteria and were assessed using the DISCERN instrument. Mean summed DISCERN scores across all websites was 48.28 (SD = 14.26), and mean scores of the overall quality of each website was 3.11 (SD = 0.66). Several website quality issues were identified, including a lack of transparency surrounding sources of information, areas of uncertainty regarding treatment, consequences of foregoing treatment, and treatment impacts on quality of life. ConclusionHealthcare providers should be aware that patients may use these websites for CAIM information. To facilitate informed decision-making, healthcare providers are encouraged to ask about patients’ usage and interest in CAIM and direct them to credible and trustworthy resources.

The use and effects of telemedicine on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine practices: a scoping review

BackgroundTelemedicine includes the delivery of health-care services and sharing of health information across distances. Past research has found that telemedicine can play a role in enhancing complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) while allowing the maintenance of cultural values and ancestral knowledge. This scoping review synthesized evidence regarding the use of telemedicine in the context of CAIM.MethodsFollowing Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE and AMED databases were searched systematically. The CADTH website was also searched for grey literature. Eligible articles included a CAIM practice or therapy offered through telemedicine, with no restrictions placed on the type of telemedicine technology used. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to synthesise common themes among the included studies.ResultsSixty-two articles were included in this synthesis. The following themes emerged: 1) the practitioner view of CAIM delivered through telemedicine, 2) the patient view of CAIM delivered through telemedicine, and 3) the technological impacts of telemedicine delivery of CAIM.ConclusionsStudies have shown that telemedicine delivery of CAIM is feasible, acceptable, and results in positive health outcomes. Some barriers remain such as the presence of chronic illness and morbidity, inability to form strong patient-provider relationships relative to face-to-face approaches, and technological difficulties. Future intervention research should focus on reducing such barriers, as well as explore which patient population would realize the greatest benefit from CAIM delivered via telemedicine, and the impact of interventions on providers and caregivers.

The brief history of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine terminology and the development and creation of an operational definition

The definition of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) remains dynamic and complex despite a steady increase in the popularity/usage of CAIM therapies across the globe. A lack of consistency in how these terms are defined remains a challenge for researchers, clinicians, and national and international organizations (e.g., World Health Organization, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) alike. In the present article, we provide a brief history of the use of these terminologies, and then outline the process we took to develop and create an operational definition of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. Our operational definition is the first to be informed by a systematic search of four quality-assessed information resource types, ultimately yielding 604 unique CAIM therapies. We then developed a single search string for the most common bibliographic databases using the finalized operational definition list of CAIM therapies. These CAIM therapies were searched against the Therapeutic Research Center's “Natural Medicines” database for all 604 therapies, whereby each item's scientific name and/or synonym was included as a keyword or phrase in the search string. While the current definition is not without limitations and ongoing debates still surround the field, this work is arguably a steppingstone towards enabling increased collaboration and communication amongst healthcare clinicians, researchers, and the public. This operational definition provides a foundation for developing well-coordinated research efforts that will assist in the acceptance and understanding of this field, while also focusing on adopting knowledge translation techniques and efforts for further research advancement and use.

Characteristics of bibliometric analyses of the complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine literature: A scoping review protocol.

Background: There is a growing body of literature on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM), which offers a holistic approach to health and the maintenance of social and cultural values. Bibliometric analyses are an increasingly commonly used method employing quantitative statistical techniques to understand trends in a particular scientific field. The objective of this scoping review is to investigate the quantity and characteristics of evidence in relation to bibliometric analyses of CAIM literature. Methods: The following bibliographic databases will be searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. Studies published in English, conducting any type of bibliometric analysis involving any CAIM therapies, as detailed by an operational definition of CAIM adopted by Cochrane Complementary Medicine, will be included. Conference abstracts and study protocols will be excluded. The following variables will be extracted from included studies: title, author, year, country, study objective, type of CAIM, health condition targeted, databases searched in the bibliometric analysis, the type of bibliometric variables assessed, how bibliometric information was reported, main findings, conclusions, and limitations. Findings will be summarized narratively, as well as in tabular and graphical format. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this scoping review will be the first to investigate the characteristics of evidence in relation to bibliometric analyses on CAIM literature. The findings of this review may be useful to identify variations in the objectives, methods, and results of bibliometric analyses of CAIM research literature.

The Provision of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Information and Services: a Review of World Leading Oncology Hospital Websites.

Many cancer patients use complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) to improve their psychological and functional health. However, there is little known about the extent of CAIM information and services provided on oncology hospital websites. This study reviewed public-facing websites to determine the degree of CAIM information provided and services offered by the world's leading cancer hospitals in 2021; this ranking was informed by a large survey of medical professionals led by Newsweek and Statista. Nine authors extracted data from hospital websites individually and in triplicate, prior to meeting to revise data extractions. Data analysis was then performed by two authors to determine how many hospitals provided CAIM descriptions and offered CAIM services, and the extent of CAIM information provided. A total of 131 hospitals were included in this study. Of the eligible hospitals, 50.38% (n = 66) provided a theoretical description of CAIM; 48.09% (n = 63) provided a description of one or more CAIM therapies; 63.36% (n = 83) offered one or more CAIM therapies to cancer patients. The most common therapies described were the same as the most common therapies offered. These therapies are massage, special foods and diets, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and creative outlets. While CAIM therapies were commonly offered, information surrounding the benefits and side effects associated with these therapies varied. Due to the lack of CAIM standardization worldwide, there is a need for increased CAIM information provision on hospital websites to better inform and empower patients to make well-informed decisions about their health.

Complementary Alternative and Integrative Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.

Complementary alternative and integrative medicine (CAIM) modalities are increasingly sought after by patients with chronic health conditions such as substance use disorders (SUDs). Evidence suggests that CAIM interventions can improve symptoms commonly seen in patients with SUDs, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), such as meditation, has proven effective for a variety of conditions, including SUDs. Other CAIM strategies, such as manipulative body practices and healing energy medicine techniques, are also showing some evidence of effectiveness. These methods center on the concept of restoring balance to energy fields or acupoints on the body, including chakras and meridians. Nurses are in an ideal position to educate, administer, and teach patients these CAIM methods to integrate with traditional medical care. Resources to learn CAIM methods can be accessed online, and specialized certification in this field is also available. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(6), 16-21.].

The Use of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) Interventions for the Prevention & Treatment of Mental Disorders of Aging

The Use of Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) Interventions for the Prevention & Treatment of Mental Disorders of Aging

P04.89. Utilization, interest and beliefs about complementary, alternative and integrative medicine: a survey of pediatric caregivers and healthcare providers

Purpose There is limited information available about factors that influence interest, beliefs and utilization of CAIM (Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine) in a pediatric population. Thus, the current study examined these factors through questionnaires to both (1) caregivers of pediatric patients and (2) pediatric healthcare providers. This two-part study was conducted at CHOC Children’s, a 238-bed pediatric hospital in Orange, California.

Medical Student Attitudes toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine

While the use of complementary, alternative and integrative medicine (CAIM) is substantial, it continues to exist at the periphery of allopathic medicine. Understanding the attitudes of medical students toward CAIM will be useful in understanding future integration of CAIM and allopathic medicine. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate an instrument and assess medical students' attitudes toward CAIM. The Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine Attitudes Questionnaire (CAIMAQ) was developed by a panel of experts in CAIM, allopathic medicine, medical education and survey development. A total of 1770 CAIMAQ surveys (51% of US medical schools participated) were obtained in a national sample of medical students in 2007. Factor analysis of the CAIMAQ revealed five distinct attitudinal domains: desirability of CAIM therapies, progressive patient/physician health care roles, mind-body-spirit connection, principles of allostasis and a holistic understanding of disease. The students held the most positive attitude for the “mind-body-spirit connection” and the least positive for the “desirability of CAIM therapies”. This study provided initial support for the reliability of the CAIMAQ. The survey results indicated that in general students responded more positively to the principles of CAIM than to CAIM treatment. A higher quality of CAIM-related medical education and expanded research into CAIM therapies would facilitate appropriate integration of CAIM into medical curricula. The most significant limitation of this study is a low response rate, and further work is required to assess more representative populations in order to determine whether the relationships found in this study are generalizable.

Geffen Faculty Highlight Concerns Linking CAIM and Conventional Researchers at UCLA Symposium

David Geffen School of Medicine faculty, representing a wide range of disciplines, engaged speakers nationally known for their expertise on complementary, alternative and integrative medicine (CAIM) and its investigation at a January, 2008 symposium on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. The forum was created to educate the UCLA Institutional Review Board (IRB), and lively participation by School of Medicine faculty helped bring IRB members up to speed on controversies surrounding CAIM research. The symposium demonstrated that academics who are neither proponents nor detractors of CAIM can facilitate cross talk between opposing camps, elucidating questions important to its evaluation by those charged with protecting research subjects. It also brought attention to the universality of quandaries facing CAIM investigators and to the ingenuity with which they have addressed many of them.

Summary of the American College for Advancement in Medicine November 2007 Conference on Integrative Medicine: Advancing Science and Clinical Practice

The autumn 2007 session of the American College for Advancement in Medicine's International Educational Conference on Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) took place between November 14 and November 18 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Arizona, USA. Over 400 physicians gathered at ACAM's (American College for Advancement in Medicine) ‘Integrative Medicine: Advancing Science and Clinical Practice’ to learn the latest science on a variety of illnesses. From topics in cancer and musculoskeletal disorders, to the science of lipids, these were cutting edge lectures from leading scientists and clinicians around the country. ACAM is a not-for-profit medical society dedicated to the education of physicians and allied health care professionals. As the leading voice in CAIM for over 30 years, ACAM strives to bring the best of nutritional and environmental research into the arena of clinical practice. During the meeting, Dr Ken Bock turned over the presidency to Dr Jeanne Drisko, the Riordan Professor of Orthomolecular Medicine and Director of the Program in Integrative Medicine Complementary and Alternative Therapies at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr Drisko's academic background and forward thinking leadership will help guide ACAM through the next 2 years. She has continuously demonstrated her commitment to providing advanced education to physicians through her collaborative efforts within the CAIM community and her research efforts at KUMC. Her plans include expanding Dr Bock's successful legacy of building bridges by reaching out to the academic CAIM physicians in the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. We look forward to Dr Drisko's visionary efforts on behalf of our organization. ACAM unveiled it's first Integrative Health Guideline on the management of hypercholesterolemia. Graciously sponsored by Employers Resource and authored by Dr Mark Houston and colleagues, this effort promises to be the first in a series that brings fully integrated guidelines to bear on the management of degenerative illnesses. The pre-conference workshop on Hormone Replacement therapy was co-chaired by our incoming president, Dr Jeanne Drisko and president elect Dr Eleanor Hynote. Presenters included Dr David Rosensweet, Dr Eugene Shippen and Dr Jonathan Wright. Emphasis was placed on individualizing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. From titration methods of bioidientical hormones to the benefits of iodine in fibrocystic breast disease this workshop was filled with practical information. ACAM's pre-conference workshop on chelation therapy was co-chaired by Dr James Biddle and Dr Jeffery Morrison. Chelating agents are molecules known for their strong affinity for heavy metals and their ability to remove them from the body. The workshop consisted of lectures describing the general history and biochemical role of chelation therapy, the indications for varied chelating agents, abnormal lab parameters in the setting of heavy metals and the rationale of this therapy in the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases potentially induced by heavy metal exposure and excess calcium.

Summary of the American College for Advancement in Medicine November 2005 Conference on Scientific Integrative Medicine: Advancing Health Horizons

The American College for Advancement in Medicine's (ACAM) 64th International Educational Symposium on Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) was held on November 9–13, 2005 at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, California. ACAM's Fall 2005 conference, ‘Scientific Integrative Medicine: Advancing Health Horizons’, offered a total of 70.5 AMA CME credits and brought together an international cadre of approximately 600 physicians, scientists and medical students/residents (from nine countries) for a fascinating educational program on the scientific and clinical evidence supporting the practice of a wide range of CAIM therapies.

Summary of the American College for Advancement in Medicine November 2004 Conference on Emerging Concepts in Immunology

Summary of the American College for Advancement in Medicine November 2004 Conference on Emerging Concepts in Immunology

Summary of the American College for Advancement in Medicine May 2005 Conference

The American College for Advancement in Medicine's (ACAM) 63rd International Educational Symposium on Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) was held on May 18–22, 2005 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL, USA. ACAM's scientific symposium brought together physicians and scientists from 13 countries for a comprehensive educational program on the evaluation and treatment of age-associated hormone deficiency with special attention to the use of bioidentical hormones in andropause and menopause.