Form Of Complementary Alternative Medicine Research Articles

Intervention and application of drawing therapy in cancer patients: a scoping review

BackgroundCancer itself and its treatment process cause a range of physical and psychological discomforts to patients. Drawing therapy, as a form of complementary alternative medicine, has been proven to be effective in alleviating the physical and psychological discomforts of cancer patients, such as chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting, and negative emotions such as anxiety and depression.ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to organize and describe the literature on drawing therapy in cancer patients, including implementers, intervention methods, and effects. It strives to provide a reference for future research on this topic.MethodsThe methodological framework proposed by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was used to guide the scoping review. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, Cochrane, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM databases were searched from inception until October 31, 2023. Literature screening, information extraction, and cross-checking were conducted independently by two researchers with experience in evidence-based nursing. The inclusion criteria were all peer-reviewed published studies on drawing therapy in cancer patients. The exclusion criteria were studies in which participants were primary caregivers of cancer patients, studies without full text, and articles published in languages other than Chinese or English. Information extraction mainly included basic information about the literature, sample information, intervention methods, and outcome indicators.Results3318 literature were initially obtained after searching, of which 30 were finally included. Among them, 19 were in English and 11 were in Chinese. The study identified variations in the implementers and intervention methods of drawing therapy across different countries. Drawing therapy significantly alleviated symptoms caused by the disease and treatment, such as pain, fatigue, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, while also assisting patients in coping with anxiety and fear. Additionally, drawing therapy bolstered social adaptability and skills. Consequently, drawing therapy improved cancer patients’ overall quality of life.Conclusions and suggestionsDrawing therapy demonstrates positive effects in cancer patients. Future studies should consider extending the intervention period to obtain more lasting effects and improving the evaluation system to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the assessment. From a clinical application perspective, interdisciplinary collaboration between nurses and art therapists to implement drawing therapy can promote professionalism and comprehensiveness in the implementation process.

Measuring God through science: A review of christian prayer as complementary medicine

Prayer is paramount in the spiritual welfare and development of an individual. Prayer is also considered a form of complementary alternative medicine if employed in primary healthcare delivery.This paper examines if God can be measured based on the impact Christian activities have on humanity, and explores the impact of Christian activities such as prayer as a form of complementary medicine.This paper presents a review of the empirical literature. Christian activities such as prayer, as ordered by God, have many health benefits such as better sleep, less stress, mood stabilizing, improvements in cardiovascular symptoms, and improvements from physical illnesses.The impact of prayer as a Christian activity is not only biblical but also scientifically confirmed.

A Mixed Questionnaire Study on Prayer as Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ghana

Background: Prayer is paramount in the spiritual welfare and development of an individual. Interestingly, prayer is also considered as a form of complementary alternative medicine and is employed in primary healthcare delivery.
 Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of prayer in primary healthcare delivery as a form of complementary healthcare. This study also investigates why patients opt for prayer as an alternative to standard medical care and ultimately to review the scientific aspect of prayer in medicine.
 Methods: The study incorporates a mixed methods study with integrated data analysis. The respondents in this study were selected practitioners of Naturopathic Medicine with pastoral background, who belong to the Association of Naturopathic Medicine Practitioners in Ghana.
 Results: Patients and complementary and alternative medicine practitioners alike in Ghana believe that prayer is very important to aid recovery and hence, plays an integral role as complementary medicine in healthcare.
 Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there is a role of prayer as complementary alternative medicine in primary healthcare delivery. We therefore hold the view that, pastors at the prayer camps should be well educated in basic medical sciences to enable an effective referral pathway to the standard medical centers.

Use of Complementary Alternative Medicine and the Associated Factors among Patients with Depression

Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been widely used in the world, but limited data are available on the use of CAM in depression. This study aimed to evaluate the use of CAM and its associated factors in depression. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 depressed patients referred to the Yasuj Neurology and Psychiatric Clinic, southern Iran, between 2019 and 2020. A valid semistructured international questionnaire was used; amongst the participants, 230 (77%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 41.47 ± 12.2 years and the mean duration of the disease was 4.49 ± 4.88 years. The prevalence of CAM use was 37.6% among the patients. The results showed a significant difference between the CAM users and nonusers regarding the disease duration (p=0.045) and body mass index (p=0.007). Moreover, the results of logistic regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between CAM use and female gender, disease duration, overweight, obesity, and self-employment (p=0.039, p=0.028, p=0.029, p=0.048, and p=0.044, resp.). The most frequently used type of CAM was herbal medicine (97.35%) followed by pray therapy (23.89%). Additionally, the most widely used herbs were borage (77%), chamomile (46.9%), and lavender (21.2%). Furthermore, 62.8% of the patients reported that their main reason for using CAM was its effectiveness. The majority of the patients (77%) had not consulted their physicians prior to utilization of CAM therapies. Herbal medicine was the most common form of CAM in depression, with a high satisfaction level. Thus, it is necessary to increase physicians' awareness in different fields of CAM.

Integrative Medicine in the Oncology Setting, What Does the Research Show?

Most oncology patients are using some form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). These can include acupuncture, massage, yoga, homeopathy, energy work, spiritual healers, vitamins and supplements, mind-body interventions, diets, and many other modalities. Although many of these interventions are safe and beneficial, some of them can be harmful. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, knowledge deficits, and the acuity of our patients, assessment of the use of CAM is often overlooked. As nurse practitioners, we must educate ourselves about the evidence for safety and efficacy of these interventions.

Pranayama Meditation (Yoga Breathing) for Stress Relief: Is it Beneficial for Teachers?

he effects of stress can have a significant impact on an individual’s personal life, relationship with colleagues, job satisfaction and career prospects. If unmanaged, stress can be the trigger that drives talented, motivated teachers out of our classrooms and into other professions. Yoga and meditation have been prescribed as a form of complementary alternative medicine for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression. The current exploratory, mixed-methods case study aimed to determine if the participants in a five-week pranayama meditation (yoga breathing) course experienced a degree of stress relief. The course included one 60-minute weekly meditation class focusing on breath awareness. The Perceived Stress Scale was administered pre and post-course, weekly journal reflections were recorded, and a structured interview was completed at the conclusion of the course. Findings indicated that the participants experienced a decrease in their perceived level of stress. Participants reported benefits in both their professional and personal lives.

South Africa: The Rise of Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine also described as folk medicine, refers to the healing practices of the body and mind. It covers a wide variety of therapies and practices that vary from country to country and region to region. It has been used since the beginning of mankind and stems from theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to a particular culture. Despite numerous attempts of governmental interference, traditional medicine continues to strive throughout Africa and certain parts of the world. During colonialism, many colonists accused traditional healers of practicing witchcraft, which led to the prohibition of the practice across various regions in Africa. Today, South Africa is home to more than 200,000 traditional healers who care for more than 27 million people. This article will primarily focus on the history of traditional medicinal practices in South Africa and its rise in modern-day times as a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM).

Prayer-for-health and complementary alternative medicine use among Malaysian breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.

BackgroundThe inclusion of prayer-for-health (PFH) in the definition of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) has resulted in higher levels of CAM use. The objective of this study was to assess PFH and CAM use among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed at two chemotherapy providers. Patients were questioned about use of three categories of CAM, mind-body practices (MBPs), natural products (NPs) and traditional medicine (TM). PFH was also examined separately from CAM to better characterise the patterns of CAM and PFH used during chemotherapy.ResultsA total of 546 eligible patients participated in the study; 70.7% (n = 386) reported using some form of CAM, and 29.3% (n = 160) were non-CAM users. When PFH was excluded as a CAM, fewer patients reported the use of CAM (66.1%; n = 361). The total number of patients who used MBPs decreased from 342 to 183. The most common CAM use category was NPs (82.8%), followed by MBPs (50.7%), and TM (35.7%). CAM users were more likely to have a tertiary education (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.15–3.89 vs. primary/lower), have household incomes > RM 3,000 (≈944 USD) per month (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.40–3.84 vs. ≤RM 3,000 (≈944 USD)), and have advanced cancer (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.18–2.59 vs. early stage cancer), compared with non-CAM users. The CAM users were less likely to have their chemotherapy on schedule (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.10–0.58 vs. chemotherapy postponed) than non-CAM users. Most MBPs were perceived to be more helpful by their users, compared with the users of NPs and TM.ConclusionCAM use was prevalent among breast cancer patients. Excluding PFH from the definition of CAM reduced the prevalence of overall CAM use. Overall, CAM use was associated with higher education levels and household incomes, advanced cancer and lower chemotherapy schedule compliance. Many patients perceived MBP to be beneficial for improving overall well-being during chemotherapy. These findings, while preliminary, clearly indicate the differences in CAM use when PFH is included in, and excluded from, the definition of CAM.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-425) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

P-074: Food practices and use of complementary & alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Singapore

P-074: Food practices and use of complementary & alternative medicine (CAM) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Singapore

P-073: Exclusive enteral nutrition in the treatment of children with Crohn’s disease in the Netherlands: a questionnaire survey amongst dietitians

P-073: Exclusive enteral nutrition in the treatment of children with Crohn’s disease in the Netherlands: a questionnaire survey amongst dietitians

Using a mixed methods research design to investigate complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use among women with breast cancer in Ireland

AimTo investigate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among women with breast cancer in Ireland using a mixed methods modified sequential explanatory design. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with oncology professionals (n = 20) and CAM practitioners (n = 20) and this was followed by a survey of 406 women with breast cancer using the ‘Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies Survey’ questionnaire (UCATS) (Lengacher et al., 2003). Follow up interviews were subsequently undertaken with a subset of this survey sample (n = 31). ResultsOver half of those surveyed (55.7%, n = 226) used some form of CAM since diagnosis. The most frequently used therapies were massage, herbal supplements (including herbs with oestrogenic properties), antioxidants, relaxation, counselling, health supplements, reflexology, reiki and support groups. Dietary interventions were used primarily to reduce symptoms and/or side effects while reduction of psychological stress was the primary reason for use of stress-reducing therapies. Most respondents reported that the CAM therapies they had used were helpful. The qualitative data elaborated on and provided clarification of the survey results. ConclusionsSimilar to international studies, CAM is popular among women with breast cancer in Ireland. As such, the challenge for Irish oncology professionals is to identify low risk CAM therapies that are likely to benefit patients while educating patients and themselves on therapies which may be of concern. This study clearly illustrates the benefits of using a mixed methods approach to enhance our understanding of a complex clinical issue and thus we recommend that this method should be the method of choice when planning health services research.

Musculoskeletal conditions and complementary/alternative medicine.

Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is immensely popular for musculoskeletal conditions. It is, therefore, essential to define CAM's value for such indications. This chapter summarises the trial data for or against CAM as a symptomatic treatment for back pain, fibromyalgia, neck pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Collectively the evidence demonstrates that some CAM modalities show significant promise, e.g. acupuncture, diets, herbal medicine, homoeopathy, massage, supplements. None of the treatments in question is totally devoid of risks. By and large the data are not compelling, not least due to their paucity and methodological limitations. It is, therefore, concluded that our research efforts must be directed towards defining which form of CAM generates more good than harm for which condition.

Equivalence and Non-inferiority Trials of CAM.

Equivalence and Non-inferiority Trials of CAM.

The New Realities of Money and Politics in Complementary/Alternative Medicine

In the United States (U.S.) today, 90% of all health care consumers use some form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) as a method of health care and they pay out of pocket. Legitimizing CAM in the U.S. was spearheaded when congress funded the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCAM) as part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). Health care providers and insurance companies are following suit because legal issues about CAM are less obtuse and treatment is less expensive. Additionally, there is less chance of providers being sued for malpractice with fewer invasive treatment and outcome promises.

The Use of Complementary Therapies in Inner-City Asthmatic Children

Use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been increasing, especially among patients with a chronic illness. Although asthma is the most common chronic illness affecting children in the United States, very little is known about the use of CAM in children with asthma. Our objective was to determine the prevalence and correlates of CAM use among inner-city children with asthma. A cross-sectional survey of parents of children with asthma attending an urban health center was performed. Parents were surveyed regarding CAM use over the past year, perceived efficacy of CAM, severity of child's asthma symptoms and demographic information. Differences in proportions were tested by chi-square or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Three hundred ten parents participated, of whom 61% were Hispanic and 37% were African American. Parental mean age was 33 years and the mean age of the child was 7.2 years; 89% of parents had treated their child in the past year with some form of CAM. However, only 18% had informed a physician of doing so. The most common forms of CAM used were as follows: prayers (53%), rubs (53%), and massage (45%). Of those who used CAM, 59% perceived it to be at least as effective as pharmacotherapy, and 44% used CAM as first treatment of an asthma attack. Mild and moderate persistent asthmatics had significantly higher rates of CAM use than did mild intermittent and severe persistent asthmatics. We found a very high rate of CAM use among children with asthma in this inner-city population. Most importantly, a very high proportion of parents perceived the therapies to be effective, used them as first treatment of an acute exacerbation, and did not inform a physician of doing so. These findings have implications for the care of asthmatic children by pediatricians practicing in urban settings.