Complementary Medicine Research Research Articles

Open Science Practices in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Research: A Path to Enhanced Transparency and Collaboration

This educational article delves into the convergence of open science practices and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges of open science for the development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based TCIM. We emphasize the transformative shift in medical science towards open and collaborative practices, highlighting the limited application of open science in TCIM research despite its growing acceptance among patients. We define open science practices and discuss specific open science practices applicable to TCIM, including study registration, adherence to reporting guidelines, data sharing, preprinting, and open access publishing. We explore the benefits of open science in TCIM, spanning improved research quality, increased public trust, accelerated innovation, and enhanced evidence-based decision-making. We also acknowledge challenges such as data privacy concerns, limited resources, and resistance to cultural change. We propose strategies to overcome these challenges, including ethical guidelines, education programs, funding advocacy, interdisciplinary dialogue, and patient engagement. Looking to the future, we envision the maturation of open science in TCIM, the development of TCIM-specific guidelines for open science practices, advancements in data sharing platforms, the integration of open data and artificial intelligence in TCIM research, and the role of policy and regulation. We foresee a future where open science in TCIM leads to a better evidence base for integrative medicine, informed decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transformative impacts on healthcare and research methodologies, highlighting the promising synergy between open science and TCIM for holistic, evidence-based healthcare solutions.

Chiropractic attitude and utilisation of evidence-based practice in South Africa: a secondary analysis

BackgroundEvidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a model utilised by the majority of healthcare professionals and is a clinical framework that assists with decision-making related to patient care, to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction. The study aimed to analyse the attitudes, skills, and utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) among South African chiropractors, focusing on perceived skill levels, training, use and identifying facilitators and barriers to EBP application.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional quantitative secondary analysis was conducted by inviting registered chiropractors in South Africa (n = 920) to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire using the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude and Utilisation Survey (EBASE).ResultsA total of 132 chiropractors completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 14.4%. Of the respondents, 59.9% were female, 52.3% were between 26 and 35 years old, and 63.3% had graduated from the University of Johannesburg. A third of respondents stated they have poor clinical research skills. Over half of the respondents (56.8%) indicated that EBP constituted a significant part of their education except for completing systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Published clinical evidence was ranked 6th as a source of information for clinical decisions. The obstacles indicated were time constraints and a lack of clinical research in complementary and alternative medicine. Access to the internet, databases and research tools were facilitators that were deemed to be “very useful” in promoting EBP.ConclusionThe majority of South African chiropractors are generally favourable towards EBP, and this practice therefore appears to be utilised and embraced, with the requisite skills.

Assessment of complementary health approaches use in pediatric oncology: Modification and preliminary validation of the "Which Health Approaches and Treatments Are You Using?" (WHAT) questionnaires.

Complementary Health Approaches (CHA) are commonly used by children with cancer; however, a few health care providers (HCPs) inquire about the use of CHA. A standardized questionnaire could facilitate such clinical discussions. We aimed to adapt and determine the face and content validity of the "Which Health Approaches and Treatments are you using?" (WHAT) child and parent-report questionnaires in pediatric oncology. An electronic Delphi survey that included children with cancer (8-18 years), parents, and HCPs and CHA researchers was conducted to reach consensus on the content of the WHAT questionnaires in pediatric oncology. Children and parents from the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and HCPs and researchers from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research and Education Network completed the survey. To determine the face and content validity of the questionnaires, two iterative cycles of individual interviews were conducted with purposive samples of children (8-18 years), parents, and HCPs from SickKids. Consensus was reached on all domains and items of the original WHAT questionnaires after one Delphi cycle (n = 61). For face and content validity testing, the first cycle of interviews (n = 19) revealed that the questionnaires were mostly comprehensive and relevant. However, the paper-based format of the original WHAT was not user-friendly, and generic items were vague and not aimed at facilitating clinical dialogues about CHA use. The WHAT questionnaires were then modified into electronic cancer-specific self- and proxy-report questionnaires including 13 and 15 items, respectively. The second cycle (n = 21) showed no need for further changes. The modified electronic cancer-specific WHAT questionnaires showed adequate face and content validity. The next step is to determine inter-rater reliability, construct validity, and feasibility of administration of the modified WHAT questionnaires in pediatric oncology.

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.

Analysis of Koryo medicine research: clinical medicine topics in <i>Koryo medicine</i>

Objectives: South Korea, the United States, and the United Nations have imposed extensive economic sanctions against North Korea, which increased the use of traditional Korean medicine in North Korea to maintain its national health care system. This study attempts to study the latest trends of traditional Korean medicine research through bibliographic analysis of one of the North Korean medical journals. It will then provide insights into how traditional Korean medicine is used in North Korea.Methods: This study is based on 611 clinical research articles out of 931 articles extracted from 13 volumes of <i>Koryo Medicine</i> (2016 ~ 2019). The articles were classified according to the researched treatment, diseases and use alongside conventional drugs.Results: Based on the analysis of <i>Koryo Medicine</i>, the proportion of clinical research articles investigating the treatment effects was very high (65.6%). Also, clinical research using herbal medicine as treatment was the most common, accounting for 17.69% of the total. Some of the clinical research in <i>Koryo Medicine</i> were conducted in tandem with conventional drug treatment, especially on acupuncture.Conclusion: This study conducted a bibliographic analysis of <i>Koryo Medicine</i> to understand the current status of traditional Korean medicine within North Korea. The analysis identified main diseases, treatment methods, and integration with conventional drugs in the clinical research of traditional Korean medicine. As a country actively seeking to use traditional Korean medicine, North Korea will become an interesting field of global traditional medicine and complementary medicine research.

Exploring the Effects of Lucilia sericata Larvae on Biofilm-forming Bacteria in Wounds

Objective: Biofilm-induced chronic wound infections are among the most significant causes of treatment failures. Healing chronic wounds with biofilm is a major issue worldwide due to high costs and adverse effects on patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impacts of Lucilia sericata larvae on biofilm-forming bacteria in chronic wounds.
 Method: We recruited 30 patients applying to Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research and Application Center, Wound Healing Unit, between December 2019 and March 2021. We obtained swab cultures before and immediately after applying Larval Debridement Therapy (LDT). After identifying isolated bacteria, we examined all agents by susceptibility and biofilm formation.
 Results: While isolating only a single bacterial genus/species in 19 patients, we could detect more than one bacterial genus/species in 11 of them. Moreover, we observed biofilm formation in bacteria isolated from 21 patients, but it was not the case in bacteria grown in 9 patients. Following LDT, we discovered that the biofilm layer on wounds was removed in a short time (two to three sessions).
 Conclusion: Although many methods are adopted in healing chronic wounds with biofilm formation, they often remain ineffective. The therapy with L. sericata larvae, a simple and effective method, may promote rapid healing of biofilm-forming wounds.

Application of Virtual Reality Technology in Clinical Practice, Teaching, and Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Background The application of virtual reality (VR) in clinical settings is growing rapidly, with encouraging results. As VR has been introduced into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), a systematic review must be undertaken to understand its current status. Aim This review aims to evaluate and summarize the current applications of VR in CAM, as well as to explore potential directions for future research and development. Methods After a brief description of VR technology, we discuss the past 20 years of clinical VR applications in the medical field. Then, we discuss the theoretical basis of the combination of VR technology and CAM, the research thus far, and practical factors regarding usability, etc., from the following three main aspects: clinical application, teaching, and scientific research. Finally, we summarize and propose hypotheses on the application of VR in CAM and its limitations. Results Our review of the theoretical underpinnings and research findings to date leads to the prediction that VR and CAM will have a significant impact on future research and practice. Conclusion Although there is still much research needed to advance the science in this area, we strongly believe that VR applications will become indispensable tools in the toolbox of CAM researchers and practitioners and will only grow in relevance and popularity in the era of digital health.

Mixed methods research in complementary and alternative medicine: a scoping review.

To update the current characteristics about the scope and quality of mixed methods research (MMR) in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) after nearly 10 years. A 5-stage approach for conducting a scoping review was adopted. Articles published on the top 10 journals in CAM with the highest impact factor in 2020 were screened for MMR. Information of included articles were extracted, and then synthesized to illustrate the current state. Methodological quality was evaluated according to the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018 version. A total of 55 (55/2991, 2%) articles using mixed methods were retrieved, including 17 medical studies and 38 ethnobotanical studies. We performed an in-depth analysis on the 17 medical studies, which studied cancer, stress, pain, fatigue, exercises, mindfulness intervention, herbal medicine use, art and acupuncture. Thirteen pilot studies applied MMR to evaluate the feasibility of interventions or programs (13/17, 76%); phenomenology was inferred as the most common philosophical assumptions (13/17, 76%); the most applied type of MMR was convergent design (16/17, 94%); integration often took place at integration (12/17, 71%). Among the 16 eligible studies for quality appraisal, majority were rated as good (14/16, 88%), whereas two studies were rated as poorly described. Primarily, a poor rating was due to incomplete reporting of data analysis and citations in qualitative components; lack of confounder controlling and the sampling strategy in quantitative components; poor description of integration and justification for mixed methods. Comparing with the previous review, fewer MMR were published in 2020 in CAM, but the proportion of studies that clearly reported MMR has increased by 4 times (4%→15%). CAM researchers need to realize the benefits that MMR can have on conducting further health care research. Our findings highlight that applying MMR will be helpful to understand the complex dynamics and interdisciplinary nature of complex intervention. In addition, addressing a standardized reporting criteria for MMR is recommended.

Prioritizing Dose in Music-Listening Intervention Research

Music listening interventions (MLI) have grown into a major subcategory in the world of complementary and alternative medicine research.  These studies have led to an epistemic explosion in MLI clinical application across many disciplines.  However, this body of research still contains a critical handicap that will limit its potential: dose and dosing.  Inconsistencies in how much of an MLI a research participant receives in a study will continue to impact generalizability until an MLI's dose is both defined and incorporated into clinical trials.  This brief paper explores MLI dose, and attempts to frame MLI dose research as a priority for all researchers who utilize this intervention in their studies.

Addressing barriers to the conduct and application of research in complementary and alternative medicine: a scoping review

BackgroundOver the past few decades, the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has grown considerably and along with it, scrutiny regarding its evidence base. While this is to be expected, and is in line with other health disciplines, research in CAM is confronted by numerous obstacles. This scoping review aims to identify and report the strategies implemented to address barriers to the conduct and application of research in CAM.MethodsThe scoping review was undertaken using the Arksey and O’Malley framework. The search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, JBI and the grey literature. Two reviewers independently screened the records, following which data extraction was completed for the included studies. Descriptive synthesis was used to summarise the data.ResultsOf the 7945 records identified, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Using the oBSTACLES instrument as a framework, the included studies reported diverse strategies to address barriers to the conduct and application of research in CAM. All included studies reported the use of educational strategies and collaborative initiatives with CAM stakeholders, including targeted funding, to address a range of barriers.ConclusionsWhile the importance of addressing barriers to the conduct and application of research in CAM has been recognised, to date, much of the focus has been limited to initiatives originating from a handful of jurisdictions, for a small group of CAM disciplines, and addressing few barriers. Myriad barriers continue to persist, which will require concerted effort and collaboration across a range of CAM stakeholders and across multiple sectors. Further research can contribute to the evidence base on how best to address these barriers to promote the conduct and application of research in CAM.

[Evidence-based homeopathy and veterinary homeopathy, and its potential to help overcome the anti-microbial resistance problem - an overview].

The basic principles of homeopathy, and its legal and scientific foundations, are discussed in an overview to address the positions of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the commission of the European Union (EU) on complementary medicine. According to the WHO,the antimicrobial resistance problem poses aglobal threat. The EU Commission's current One Health Action Plan requests research in complementary medicine, the WHO urges member states to include complementary medicine in their national health policies. Regarding external evidence on the general use of human and veterinary homeopathy, evidence level 1a studies are reviewed. Focusing on the external evidence on the use of homeopathy in infections, some evidence level 1a, 1b, 2c studies, and a case report, are described in more detail. In conclusion, evidence for the effectiveness of human and veterinary homeopathy in general, and in particular, of homeopathic treatment for infections, is available. Especially, individualized homeopathy demonstrates effects at all quality levels according to Cochrane criteria, even in the methodologically high-quality studies. As in most areas of veterinary medicine and medicine, further good/excellent studies are necessary. In compliance with the principles of homeopathy, further methodologically high-quality trials focusing on the homeopathic treatment of infections are the next logical step. The selection of the simile (individually fitting homeopathic medicinal product) by appropriately trained homeopathic doctors/veterinarians is essential for the effectiveness of homeopathy. Implementation of studies at university facilities is a prerequisite for quality assurance.Consequently, further integration of homeopathy at universities is a necessary requirement for the patients'best interests.

Practice-Based Research in Complementary Medicine: Could N-of-1 Trials Become the New Gold Standard?

Complementary medicines and therapies are popular forms of healthcare with a long history of traditional use. Yet, despite increasing consumer demand, there is an ongoing exclusion of complementary medicines from mainstream healthcare systems. A lack of evidence is often cited as justification. Until recently, high-quality evidence of treatment efficacy was defined as findings from well-conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. In a recent and welcome move by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, however, the N-of-1 trial design has also been elevated to the highest level of evidence for treatment efficacy of an individual, placing this research design on par with the meta-analysis. N-of-1 trial designs are experimental research methods that can be implemented in clinical practice. They incorporate much of the rigor of group clinical trials, but are designed for individual patients. Individualizing treatment interventions and outcomes in research designs is consistent with the movement towards patient-centered care and aligns well with the principles of holism as practiced by naturopaths and many other complementary medicine practitioners. This paper explores whether rigorously designed and conducted N-of-1 trials could become a new ‘gold standard’ for demonstrating treatment efficacy for complementary medicine interventions in individual patients in clinical practice.

Report and Proposals on Participation in International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research (ICCMR) 2019 as the Members of International Committee of Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine

Report and Proposals on Participation in International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research (ICCMR) 2019 as the Members of International Committee of Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine

An overview of systematic reviews of complementary and alternative therapies for infantile colic

BackgroundInfantile colic is a distressing condition characterised by excessive crying in the first few months of life. The aim of this research was to update the synthesis of evidence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research literature on infantile colic and establish what evidence is currently available.MethodsMedline, Embase and AMED (via Ovid), Web of Science and Central via Cochrane library were searched from their inception to September 2018. Google Scholar and OpenGrey were searched for grey literature and PROSPERO for ongoing reviews. Published systematic reviews that included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of infants aged up to 1 year, diagnosed with infantile colic using standard diagnostic criteria, were eligible. Reviews of RCTs that assessed the effectiveness of any individual CAM therapy were included. Three reviewers were involved in data extraction and quality assessment using the AMSTAR-2 scale and risk of bias using the ROBIS tool.ResultsSixteen systematic reviews were identified. Probiotics, fennel extract and spinal manipulation show promise to alleviate symptoms of colic, although some concerns remain. Acupuncture and soy are currently not recommended. The majority of the reviews were assessed as having high or unclear risk of bias and low confidence in the findings.ConclusionThere is clearly a need for larger and more methodologically sound RCTs to be conducted on the effectiveness of some CAM therapies for IC. Particular focus on probiotics in non-breastfed infants is pertinent.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO: CRD42018092966.

Practicing shiatsu in Australia: A workforce survey

BackgroundShiatsu is an under-represented modality within complementary medicine (CM) research. No previous data has been collected on the shiatsu workforce in Australia. ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterise shiatsu practitioners in Australia and their clinical practice with the view of informing clinical research. MethodsIn 2016, a 32-question on-line cross-sectional survey was advertised to shiatsu practitioners on the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Australia’s (STAA) mailing list and through other professional associations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. ResultsOf the 121 respondents 70.3% (n = 85) were female, the median age was 48 years and 74.4% (n = 90) were STAA members. The median number of years in practice was ten. Most were self-employed (93.3%, n = 112/120) working less than 20 h per week (82.1%, n = 92/120) in a variety of settings, most commonly solo practice (76%, n = 91/120) followed by group practices alongside other shiatsu practitioners, allied health or medical doctors (53.3%, n = 64/120). Practitioners reported typically spending over an hour of contact time with a broad range of clients who often had multiple healthcare needs, including those incurring a high burden of disease such as chronic pain and mental health. The top four symptoms/conditions that practitioners reported improved outcomes were pain/musculoskeletal (40.6%, n = 128/315), mental health/wellbeing (26.0%, n = 82/315), fatigue (10.2%, n = 31/315) and gastrointestinal (6.3%, n = 20/315). On average, a positive effect was reportedly observed following four treatments at 1–2 week intervals. Almost two thirds (63.2%, n = 67/106) of practitioners reported regularly referring their clients to other health professionals. ConclusionsResults from the first national workforce survey of shiatsu practitioners in Australia suggest Shiatsu practitioners are engaging in the shared care of their clients’ health and wellbeing, including referrals or recommendations to other healthcare practitioners. Practitioner characteristics generally align with those reported for the broader field of CM in Australia and shiatsu practitioners in Western Europe. Reported positive outcomes for chronic diseases and common yet difficult-to-treat symptoms signal areas for future clinical research.

The Trials (and Tribulations) of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncology.

Two decades following the creation of the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Cancer Institute, the status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research within oncology remains opaque. To better understand the landscape of CAM studies in oncology, we identified CAM-related phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through ClinicalTrials.gov and compared these CAM trials to all non-CAM oncologic RCTs. Pearson χ2 testing was used to compare proportions across groups; all tests were two-sided. Comparing the 25 identified CAM RCTs with 739 non-CAM RCTs, CAM studies were more likely to be sponsored by a cooperative group (64.0% vs 28.6%, P < .001) and less likely to be industry funded (8.0% vs 76.5%, P < .001). CAM trials disproportionately excluded disease-related outcomes as endpoints (8.0% vs 84.6%, P < .001), were unsupported by prior early-phase data (55.0% vs 96.1%, P < .001), and did not meet the primary endpoint (8.7% vs 53.0%, P < .001). Given the observed relationship between encouraging pilot data and subsequent phase III trial success, we contend that future CAM RCTs may yield more promising findings if better supported by appropriately designed and well-characterized early-phase signals.

Indonesian clinical psychologists’ perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine research and knowledge: a content analysis study

PurposeAs part of a nationwide research about knowledge, attitude, experiences and educational needs towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Indonesian clinical psychologists (CPs), the purpose of this paper is to explore CPs’ perceptions of CAM research and their interest in learning CAM.Design/methodology/approachA link to an online survey was e-mailed to all 1,045 CPs across Indonesia. At the end of the survey, two open-ended questions were asked: “What do you think about CAM research in Indonesia?” and “Why are you interested in learning about CAM?”, which were responded to by 127 participants (87 per cent of females; Mage=36.67, SD=9.02). Participants’ responses were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.FindingsIt was found that two global themes for CPs’ perceptions of CAM were to improve participants’ professionalism and as part of continuing education and development for mental health professionals. The favourable responses in this study may reflect participants’ willingness to be involved in collaborative CAM research and education. Moreover, CAM was perceived as part of Indonesian culture and participants viewed CAM research and knowledge as a chance to promote Indonesian local wisdom to complement conventional psychotherapy.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings might call for stakeholders to integrate CAM knowledge into psychology education, facilitate CAM research in psychology settings and encourage collaborative CAM research. However, self-selection bias may limit the findings of this study.Originality/valueThis study explored perceptions of CAM research and interest in learning CAM that have rarely been investigated among mental health professionals and particularly, until now, have not been investigated in Indonesia.

Differences and similarities between users of traditional healing and other CAM modalities in the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study

Poster presented at the ICCMR International conference in complementary medicine research, Brisbane, 07.05. - 10.05.19, http://iccmr2019.com/ , arranged by ISCMR International society complementary medicine research.

Enhancing complementary and integrative medicine research through the use of data linkage

Enhancing complementary and integrative medicine research through the use of data linkage

An exploration into the impact of cultural health perceptions and traditional medicine systems on dietary intake of BME populations in the UK

Shiatsu is an under-represented modality within complementary medicine (CM) research. No previous data has been collected on the shiatsu workforce in Australia.This study aimed to characterise shiatsu practitioners in Australia and their clinical practice with the view of informing clinical research.In 2016, a 32-question on-line cross-sectional survey was advertised to shiatsu practitioners on the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Australia’s (STAA) mailing list and through other professional associations. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.Of the 121 respondents 70.3% (n = 85) were female, the median age was 48 years and 74.4% (n = 90) were STAA members. The median number of years in practice was ten. Most were self-employed (93.3%, n = 112/120) working less than 20 h per week (82.1%, n = 92/120) in a variety of settings, most commonly solo practice (76%, n = 91/120) followed by group practices alongside other shiatsu practitioners, allied health or medical doctors (53.3%, n = 64/120). Practitioners reported typically spending over an hour of contact time with a broad range of clients who often had multiple healthcare needs, including those incurring a high burden of disease such as chronic pain and mental health. The top four symptoms/conditions that practitioners reported improved outcomes were pain/musculoskeletal (40.6%, n = 128/315), mental health/wellbeing (26.0%, n = 82/315), fatigue (10.2%, n = 31/315) and gastrointestinal (6.3%, n = 20/315). On average, a positive effect was reportedly observed following four treatments at 1–2 week intervals. Almost two thirds (63.2%, n = 67/106) of practitioners reported regularly referring their clients to other health professionals.Results from the first national workforce survey of shiatsu practitioners in Australia suggest Shiatsu practitioners are engaging in the shared care of their clients’ health and wellbeing, including referrals or recommendations to other healthcare practitioners. Practitioner characteristics generally align with those reported for the broader field of CM in Australia and shiatsu practitioners in Western Europe. Reported positive outcomes for chronic diseases and common yet difficult-to-treat symptoms signal areas for future clinical research.