conventional & complementary medicine Flashcards
1
Q
self-assessment
A
- understanding what symptoms mean & what is going on in your body helps reduce anxiety about symptoms & enables you to practice safe self-care
- can also monitor your body’s vital signs (temp. & heart rate) & take self-tests for blood pressure/sugar, pregnancy, urinary tract infections, etc.
- can help you make informed decisions about when to seek medical help
2
Q
symptoms
A
- often due to immune response rather than pathogens themselves
- ex; pain & swelling that occur after ankle injury immobilize injured joint to allow healing to take place + fever may be attempt to make body less hospitable to infectious agents
3
Q
health literacy
A
- Canadian Public Health Association defines health literacy as ‘skills to enable access, understanding, & use of information for health’
- making healthy lifestyle choices, finding & interpreting health information, & locating proper health services = important skills for all Canadians
4
Q
vulnerable populations in terms of health literacy
A
- seniors, immigrants, & the unemployed
- related to lack of access to trustworthy information or inability to understand & use that information
- improving health literacy can enhance quality of life for many Canadians
5
Q
evidenced-based medicine
A
- using best currently available research evidence along with clinical expertise & patient values to make medical/health decisions
6
Q
‘gold standard’ of evidence
A
- equated with experimental/scientific method
- method uses & relies on experiments that assign subjects (animal/human) randomly to intervention group (ex; a new drug) or to control group (does not receive drug)
- in most studies, researches don’t know which group received intervention & subjects don’t know whirler they received drug or placebo (called ‘double-blind’)
7
Q
hierarchy of evidence pyramid
A
- systematic reviews
- randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- non-randomized controlled trials
- observational studies with comparison/cohort groups
- case series & case reports =
- “expert” opinion & background information
8
Q
systematic reviews
A
- meta-analyses or interpretations of RCTs
9
Q
randomized controlled-trials (RCT)
A
- double-blind & controlled
10
Q
observational studies with comparison/cohort groups
A
- two groups are followed regarding identified health parameters (ex; one cohort smokes & another cohort does not)
- are evaluated at some point for their health status (no form of control)
- researchers take two groups, like group of breast cancer patients & comparison group with same age, gender, ethnicity, etc. without breast cancer & examine/analyze their health histories to make comparisons draw conclusions
11
Q
case series & case reports
A
- researcher uses individual cases/collection of medical reports on treatment of an individual patient/number of patients with same issue
- sometimes critical info. can be gained from case control, case series, & case report studies
12
Q
“expert” opinion & background information
A
- media outlets, internet sources, public domains, family members, anyone that may represent second/third-hand opinions or interpretations of different forms of evidence
13
Q
self-medication
A
- Canada = second-largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids (medications that relieve pain)
- North America = consumes 80% of world’s opioids
- more than 100’000 OTC drugs on market (60% of all medications are OTC)
14
Q
most common CAM therapies
A
- relaxation techniques, herbal medicine, massage, & chiropractor
- people often use CAM therapies in addition to their conventional medical treatments
15
Q
natural health products (NHP)
A
- In Canada, 73% of Canadians regularly take NHPs
- vitamins & minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicine, traditional medicines (Chinese medicines), probiotics, etc.
- NHPs must be safe for use as OTC products & not require a prescription to be sold
16
Q
evidence-based practice
A
- practitioner systematically finds, assesses, & uses most current & valid research findings as basis for health-related decisions
17
Q
conventional medicine
A
- standard western medicine
(differs from various medical systems developed in China, Japan, India, & other parts of world) - biomedicine (foundations in biological & physical sciences)
- based in & relies on scientific medicine → diseases are thought to be caused by identifiable physical factors & characterized by representative set of symptoms
- western medicine translates scientific method into practice through experimental research process
- process of drug development is equally rigorous
18
Q
scientific explanations characteristics
A
- empirical → based on evidence of the senses & on objective/systematic observation (often carried out under carefully controlled conditions, must be capable of verification by others)
- rational → follow rules of logic & are consistent with know facts
- testable → either are verifiable through direct observation or lead to predictions about what should occur under conditions not yet observed
- parsimonious → explain phenomena by using fewest number of causes
- general → have broad explanatory power
- rigorously evaluated → constantly evaluated for consistency with evidence & known principles, for parsimony & generality
- tentative → scientists willing to entertain possibility that their explanations are faulty (based on new, better, or connected evidence)
19
Q
premises of conventional medicine pt1
A
- believes disease is caused by identifiable physical factors + identifies cause of disease as pathogens (bacteria & viruses), genetic factors, & unhealthy lifestyles that result in changes at molecular & cellular levels
- focus is primarily on physical causes of illness rather than mental or spiritual imbalance
- believes every disease is defined by certain set of symptoms & these symptoms are similar in most patients suffering from the disease
- treats illnesses as isolated biological disturbances that can occur in human beings
20
Q
premises of conventional medicine pt2
A
- idea of illness as result of invasion by outside factors = strong orientation toward methods of destroying pathogens or preventing them from causing serious infection
- implementation of public health measures, drugs, surgery = ways to control pathogens
- relies heavily on surgery & on advanced medical technology to discover physical cause of disease & to correct, remove, & destroy them
21
Q
pharmaceuticals
A
- medical drugs (both prescription & OTC)
- discovery & development of sulfa drugs, antibiotics, & steroids in 20th century + advances in chemistry = possible to identify active ingredients in common plant-derived remedies
- paved way for current close identification of western medicine with pharmaceuticals
22
Q
MDs & DOs
A
- medical doctors = independent practitioners who hold a doctor of medicine degree (MD) from accredited medical school
- doctors of osteopathic medicine = have received undergraduate medical degree but postgraduate training places emphasis on musculoskeletal problems & manipulative therapy
- MDs & DOs are two types of ‘complete’ physicians in North America (meaning they are trained & licensed to perform surgery & prescribe medication)
- only osteopathic medical schools in US
23
Q
podiatrists
A
- practitioners who specialize in medical & surgical care of the feet + length of training similar to that of MDs
24
Q
ophthalmologists, optometrists, & opticians
A
- ophthalmologists = have MD, followed by specialization in ophthalmology
- care for all types of eye problems & perform eye surgery
- optometrists = trained to examine eyes, detect eye diseases, & prescribe corrective lenses
- must complete at least 3 years of prerequisite college/university courses & 4-5 year university doctor of optometry (OD) degree
- opticians = specialists in fitting eyeglasses & making lenses to correct vision problems
25
dentists & dental hygienists
- dentists = specialize in prevention & treatment of diseases & injuries of teeth, mouth, & jaws + can perform surgery & prescribe drugs
- graduates of four year dental schools
- endodontists (specialists) receive additional education
- dental hygienists & assistants = trained dental professionals who are granted diplomas from variety of community colleges & programs across country
26
allied health care providers
- healthcare professionals who typically provide services under supervision or control of independent practitioners
27
adverse drug events (ADEs)
- drug-related errors that can occur for several reasons;
- medication errors = physicians may overprescribe drugs + adverse effects can occur if physician prescribes wrong drug or dangerous combination of drugs
- off-label drug use = once drug is approved by Health Canada for one purpose, it can legally be prescribed for purposes not listed on label = some prescriptions are made with little/no evidence supporting such use
- online pharmacies = some sell products & engage in illegal practices (puts consumer at risk for receiving adulterated, expired, ineffective, or counterfeit drugs)
- costs = Canadians spend about 20 billion on prescription medication (consumers may lower their drug costs by using generic versions of medications, joining drug discount program, or investing reputable mail-order or internet pharmacies)
28
alternative medical systems - domain of CAM practices
- complete systems of theory & practice that have evolved independently of & often long before conventional biomedical approach
- traditional Chinese medicine, Native American, African, Middle-Eastern, South American medical systems; homeopathy, naturopathy
29
mind body interventions - domain of CAM practices
- variety of techniques designed to make it possible for mind to affect bodily function & symptoms
- meditation, uses of hypnosis, prayer, mental healing
30
biologically based therapies - domain of CAM practices
- include natural & biologically based practices, interventions, & products
- herbal, special dietary, orthomolecular therapies
31
manipulative & body-based methods - domain of CAM practices
- include methods based on manipulations & movement of body
- chiropractic, osteopathy, massage therapy
32
energy therapies - domain of CAM practices
- focus on energy fields within body or from other sources
- Qi gong, Reiki, therapeutic touch
33
alternative medical systems pt1
- many cultures elaborated complete systems of medical philosophy, theory, & practice long before current biomedical approach was developed
- western medicine is only about 150 years old
- some medical systems have been practised for thousands of years
- medical approaches still used today alongside Western medicine + quite often used by physicians trained in Western medicine
- 2/3 Canadians use some form of CAM each year
34
alternative medical systems pt2
- most traditional medical systems view disease as disturbance or imbalance of not only physical processes, but also of forces & energies within the body, mind, spirit, & larger environment
- whole patient (rather than isolated set of symptoms) is treated in most comprehensive alternative medical systems
- rare that only single treatment approach is used (multiple techniques & methods are commonly employed & continually adjusted according to changes in patient’s health status)
35
traditional Chinese medicine
- based on sophisticated set of techniques/methods & individualized diagnosis, treatment, & preventions
- no identical disease exists in TCM
- 2 patients with same diagnosis in Western medicine will get different diagnoses in TCM & will be given different treatments
- views illness as result of disturbance in flow of qi ('the life force')
- works to restore & balance qi, treats illness while also increasing energy, preventing disease, & supporting immune system
- TCM practitioners trained at specific TCM-training colleges
36
two primary treatment methods of TCM
- herbal remedies & acupuncture;
- about 5800 herbal remedies (include plant products, animal parts, & minerals + have yin & yang properties)
- acupuncture = insertion of thin needles into skin at points along meridians (pathways through which qi is believed to flow) → works to correct disturbances in flow of qi
- acupressure = art & science of applying physical pressure on certain acupuncture points
37
homeopathy
- alternative medical system of western origin
- based on two main principles; ‘like cures like’ & remedies become more effective with greater dilution
- ‘like cures like’ → substance that produces symptoms of illness in healthy person can cure illness when given in small quantity (ex; vaccinations)
- treats illnesses by giving very small doses of drugs that in larger doses would produce symptoms like those of the illness
- remains one of most controversial forms of CAM
38
mind-body interventions
- make use of integral connection between mind & body & the effect each can have on the other
- include stress-management techniques (meditation, yoga, psychotherapy, music, art, dance therapy, hypnosis)
- hypnosis = process by which practitioner induces state of deep relaxation in which individual is more suggestible; commonly used in cases of pain, phobia, & addiction
- hypnotherapy is not insured physician service in Canada
39
biological-based therapies
- CAM therapies that include biologically based interventions & substances derived from plant/animal origin (herbal remedies, extracts from animal tissues, dietary supplements)
- pharmacopoeia = collection of descriptions & formulas for drugs & medicinal preparations
- pharmacopoeia of modern scientific medicine originated in folk medicine of native peoples & many drugs used today are derived from plants
40
manipulative & body-based methods
- touch & body manipulation = long-standing forms of health care
- manual healing techniques = based on idea that dysfunction in one part of body can cause pain/dysfunction in another part + correcting these misalignments can bring body back to optimal health
- chiropractic = system of manual healing used to treat musculoskeletal problems + most common CAM manual healing method
- primary treatment is manipulation of spine & other joints
41
energy therapies
- forms of CAM treatment that use energy fields originating either within body or from outside sources (electromagnetic fields) to promote health & healing
- biofield therapies
- therapeutic touch
- bioelectromagnetics
- bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
42
biofield therapies
- based on idea that energy fields surround & penetrate body & can be influenced by movement, touch, pressure, or placement of hands in or through fields
43
therapeutic touch
- derived from ancient techniques of laying-on hands + based on premise that healers can identify & correct energy imbalances by passing their hands over patient’s body
44
bioelectromagnetics
- study of interaction between living organisms & electromagnetic fields, both those produced by organism itself & those produced by outside sources
45
bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
- CAM therapies based on notion that electromagnetic fields can be used to promote healing & manage pain
