Mentorship Programs within a Network to Build Research Literacy & Capacity in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practitioners

Abstract

Background: A lack of research literacy and capacity has been identified as a key barrier to research in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Networks may enable multidisciplinary collaboration between academic researchers and CAM practitioners and provide opportunities for mentoring and capacity building. Little is known about how mentoring can operate within a network and what its potential is as a strategy to increase research literacy and capacity among CAM practitioners. Purpose: To explore how mentoring within a network can be used to build research literacy and capacity amongst CAM practitioners. Methodology: Qualitative method was used for data collection and content analysis. Participants were individuals with knowledge and/or experience in networks and/or mentoring, as well as CAM practitioners. Results: Background: A lack of research literacy and capacity has been identified as a key barrier to research in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Networks may enable multidisciplinary collaboration between academic researchers and CAM practitioners and provide opportunities for mentoring and capacity building. Little is known about how mentoring can operate within a network and what its potential is as a strategy to increase research literacy and capacity among CAM practitioners. Purpose: To explore how mentoring within a network can be used to build research literacy and capacity amongst CAM practitioners. Methodology: Qualitative method was used for data collection and content analysis. Participants were individuals with knowledge and/or experience in networks and/or mentoring, as well as CAM practitioners. Results: Some major categories derived from the data were: 1) A network must clearly define the role and goals of mentoring. 2) An infrastructure to support and maintain the mentoring relationship should be in place. 3) A number of barriers and enablers for successful mentoring within a network were addressed. 4) Some issues specific to CAM practitioners' ability to conduct research were raised. Conclusion: Mentoring was seen as a potentially useful strategy. Ideas for mentoring were suggested, including cooperative models, job shadowing, perceptorship and role modeling. Innovative models were discussed.