Complementary Therapies Flashcards
Why do patients use complementary therapies?
Persistent symptoms not relieved conventionally
Worried about real or perceived side effects of conventional treatment
A way to relax
Want patient centred and holistic approach
Help with side effects of conventional treatment
What is the patient perspective of complementary therapies?
Increasing availability and demand
High level of satisfaction
Concerned about safety, competence of doctor, denial, guilt, expense
What is a doctors perspective of complementary therapies?
Some established forms may be of benefit
Concerns about missed or delayed diagnosis, refusal of conventional treatment, wasting money on ineffective treatments, implausible mechanism of action, unqualified practioners
Give some implications of complementary therapies for care
More people involved in care so more complicated and drug interactions possible
Resources diverted away from conventional uses
What evidence basis should they have?
NICE recommends acupuncture and massage for back pain, ginger for morning sickness
What are the challenges of doing a trial on complementary therapies?
Hard to double blind
Hard to find placebos
May not agree to randomisation
Drug companies don’t want to fund it
Pros and cons of NICE evaluating more complementary therapies
Pros: public interest, access via GPs, stimulate research
Cons: limited NHS money, higher priorities for NICE
Define complementary therapies
The practice of complementary and alternative medicine involves any medical system based on a theory of disease or method of treatment other than the orthodox science taught at medical school
