Actions speak louder than words: Mainstream health providers’ definitions and behaviour regarding complementary and alternative medicine

Hirschkorn, Kristine; Bourgeault, Ivy Lynn

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.05.001

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Midwives and physicians seem to perceive the various CAM methods differently, which is in accordance with earlier findings [26]. Physicians seem to be more reluctant to use CAM than midwives.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Münstedt

Schröter²,

Brüggmann³

et al. 2009

Complement Med Res

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Background: This nationwide study aimed to assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in German departments of obstetrics. Methods: All German departments of obstetrics were identified and were sent a questionnaire designed to assess which CAM methods, if any, they used during childbirth, how frequently, and why. SPSS software was used for statistical analyses (Spearman’s bivariate correlation, crosstabulation, and Pearson’s chi-square test). Results: The questionnaires were returned by 40.3% (381/946) of the identified departments. The most commonly used CAM therapy was acupuncture (available in 97.3% (366/376) of departments) followed by homeopathy (offered in 93.4%) and aromatherapy (available in 76.6%). Most decisions regarding CAM use were made by midwives; only decisions on acupuncture were taken by obstetricians and midwives. Reasons given for using CAM were patient demand and perceived efficacy of CAM, particularly by midwives. Obstetricians were only partly convinced of the efficacy of CAM methods and their conviction varied with the type of unit they worked in. Conclusions: CAM methods are widely used in German departments of obstetrics despite lacking evidence of effectiveness. Efficacy, side effects and consequences of CAM use should be assessed using the mandatory German quality assurance measures and birth surveys. CAM use elsewhere also merits further study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Münstedt

Schröter²,

Brüggmann³

et al. 2009

Complement Med Res

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show abstract

“…In a similar vein, nurse midwifery respondents admitted to lacking skills to confidently evaluate the available evidence. This finding has been noted in other research (Hastings-Tolsma and Terada, 2009;Hirschkorn and Bourgeault, 2007). Providers should know how to access and evaluate information to allow for accurate counseling of patients (Low Dog, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Decision-making for use of complementary and alternative therapies by pregnant women and nurse midwives during pregnancy: An exploratory qualitative study

Hastings‐Tolsma¹

2013

Int. J. Nurs. Midwifery

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Millions of people use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Such therapies are used across a wide spectrum of health conditions, but the use is particularly notable during pregnancy. Despite the widespread use, little is known about the perceptions of patients and clinicians in deciding about use of varied therapies. This study describes pregnant women and obstetrical provider (nurse midwives) perceptions in decision-making for use of CAM therapies during pregnancy. Pregnant women and nurse midwives were interviewed in focus groups with transcribed data analyzed using content analysis. Four themes emerged from the session with pregnant women and 3 from the nurse midwives. Data underscore the need to dialogue with all pregnant women about CAM use, and to mainstream CAM in education programs. Given the paucity of evidence for safety and efficacy during pregnancy for most CAM therapies, decision-making strategies to fill those knowledge gaps are urgently needed.

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“…3 Unfortunately, there was no option for physicians to report frequency of provision, nor was the definition of ''alternative/complementary medicine'' provided in the survey, hence there could be some ambiguity to respondents. As noted in the introduction, however, ''alternative/complementary medicine,'' or what is referred to as CAM, is widely considered to represent those therapeutic approaches that fall outside of orthodox (i.e., regulated, biomedical) medicine (Hirschkorn and Bourgeault 2007).…”

Section: Dependent Variablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…ATTEMPTS AT CATEGORIZING PRACTICES/PRACTITIONERS AS COMPLEMENTARY and alternative medicine (CAM) are contested and vary according to political context, point of view and study design (Achilles 2001;Astin et al 1998;Kelner and Wellman 2000;NCCAM 2008). CAM is typically defined ''residually'' as therapeutic approaches that fall outside of orthodox biomedicine in the West (Achilles 2001;Hirschkorn and Bourgeault 2007;Saks 2003;Sharma 2000). It has also been defined positively as a group of practices/practitioners embodying the characteristics of holism, vitalism, and individualized care (Kelner and Wellman 2000;Micozzi 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Canadian Family Physicians and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: The Role of Practice Setting, Medical Training, and Province of Practice^*

Hirschkorn

Andersen

Bourgeault

2009

Canadian Review of Sociology

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The present study sheds some light on how and why Canadian family physicians offer complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services to their patients. Our results suggest that organizational settings discourage physicians from offering CAM, while solo clinics are most conducive. Physicians trained in French-language medical schools are less likely than their English-language trained colleagues to offer CAM services, and those in British Columbia are the most likely to do so. Provincial differences do not appear to be related to the presence or absence of "negative proof" legislation that is considered to facilitate CAM provision by physicians.

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Actions speak louder than words: Mainstream health providers’ definitions and behaviour regarding complementary and alternative medicine

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Decision-making for use of complementary and alternative therapies by pregnant women and nurse midwives during pregnancy: An exploratory qualitative study

Canadian Family Physicians and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: The Role of Practice Setting, Medical Training, and Province of Practice^*

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Actions speak louder than words: Mainstream health providers’ definitions and behaviour regarding complementary and alternative medicine

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Decision-making for use of complementary and alternative therapies by pregnant women and nurse midwives during pregnancy: An exploratory qualitative study

Canadian Family Physicians and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: The Role of Practice Setting, Medical Training, and Province of Practice*

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Canadian Family Physicians and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: The Role of Practice Setting, Medical Training, and Province of Practice^*