Complementary Therapies and Professionalism

Question 1

Why do people turn to complementary therapies?

Answer 1

Persistent symptoms
Real or perceived adverse effects of conventional treatments
Preference for a holistic approach
May feel that they receive more time and attention

Question 2

What are some common concerns about complementary therapies?

Answer 2

Unqualified and unregulated practitioners
Risk missed or delayed diagnosis
May refuse conventional treatment
May waste money on ineffective treatments
Mechanism of some complementary treatments is so implausible that it cannot work

Question 3

What are some challenges in conducting clinical trials?

Answer 3

Resources
Trial of single intervention may not reflect reality
Multifaceted intervention trial very complex
Agreement to randomisation
Finding placebos can be challenging
Difficult to make double-blind

Question 4

Problems with the evidence base for complementary therapies?

Answer 4

Anecdotal and/or qualitative evidence

Quantitive data show clinical improvement but don’t know the quality and number of trials

More research is problematic due to funding and problems with trial methodology

Question 5

What happens in the process of professional socialisation?

Answer 5

Medical education - turns lay person into professional

Learn values and attitudes as well as facts

Question 6

What is the in the formal and informal curriculum?

Answer 6

Formal - knowledge that is tested through exams

Informal - attitudes, beliefs and performance which are noted but not formally examined

Question 7

What is the ‘club culture’?

Answer 7

Resistance to external scrutiny, criticism and control.

Question 8

What are reasons for a fitness to practice trial?

Answer 8

MIsconduct
Poor performance
Criminal conviction or caution

Question 9

What actions can be taken by the GMC after fitness to practice?

Answer 9

Agree undertakings with the doctor
Place conditions on their registration
Suspend their registration
Remove them from the medical register

Question 10

What is revalidation?

Answer 10

Evaluation of a doctor’s practice through annual appraisals that consider the whole of their practice

Question 11

What are the three steps in revalidation?

Answer 11

1. Participate in annual appraisals, usually in the workplace
2. Maintain a portfolio of supporting information to bring to their appraisals as a basis for discussion
3. Have a positive recommendation from a responsible officer