LEC 6: Complementary & Alternative Medicine Flashcards
Complementary Medicine
Therapies often used alongside of biomedical system/interventions
What are the most common forms of complementary medicines?
- Diet/nutriton
- Mind-body
- Manual
- Pharmacological-biological
- Herbal/plant bases
Alternative Medicine
Independent healing systems or interventions outside of biomedical theory/practice
Biomedical
Western/Islamic science-based system
Traditional Medicine
Healing systems/therapies from a particular cultural/ethnic/religious background
How is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) not seen globally?
May be seen as the traditional “health system” in many cultures
- Changing and frequently exists alongside biomedical treatments (surgery, cancer treatments, accidents etc.)
How are (W) holistic health systems a way to maintain balanced health?
- India: Ayurveda system
- Body types = health interventions - China: Traditional Chinese medicine
- Energy flow/balance - Indigenous: Herbal medicines, psycho-spiritual healing
* Lifestyle-focused and long-term maintenance
Use of CAM in Canada
- 79% of Canadians have used some sort of CAM at least once in their lives
- 56% of Canadians have used CAM at least once in the previous year
What province is most likely to use CAM?
BC is most likely
- 89%
What province is least likely to use CAM?
Quebec least likely
- 69%
What are the four most commonly used CAM?
- Message: 44%
- Chiropractic car: 42%
- Yoga: 27%
- Relaxation technique: 25%
CAM is most likely to be used between what age groups?
Most users of CAM are between 35 to 44 years
- 61%
How much of CAM is covered/ people spend per year?
Users spent $8.6 billion on CAM
- Most CAM in Canada may not be covered
- Usually the main CAM that gets covered is message and chiropractic care
What are the three impacts of CAM?
- Safety: Many treatments not tested/safe/proven
- Ayurveda: heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic) found in 22% of formations - Science: Lack of high-quality science, pseudoscience
- Most studies on CAM not well designed, nor replicable - Beliefs: Links to mind and belief systems/psychology
- “Placebo effect” common n ALL medical systems
- Can be as high as 50% effect
Tim Caulfield
Researches public health vs media
- Focuses lately on impacts of celebrity culture and media on public health messaging, rise of anti-science, anti-data
- Uses very biomedical, science/data-based approach
- Has very vocal detractors who use CAM
Time Caulfield: Vedio
Thoughts
- Frustrating/ depressing that people believe more what celebrities are saying then the scientific data
- Cause for concern, people are not trusting/ listening to people with science/ medical background
Impacts
- Less likely to trust RNs, Drs, healthcare professionals etc.
- More likely to relive the celebrities they are following
- Issues relating to the interpersonal; need to build that trust with your patient and keep the door open
- Do not rush to judgment, otherwise the patient will shut the door quickly to communicaiton
- A lot of issues with trust and who to listen to regarding your health
Legal Aspect: Treatment Safety
May not be safe/ethical for client
- Much CAM not studied/tested or data is questionable
Legal Aspect: Drug Safety
Non-standardized doses, not tested for safety or efficacy, not approved or banned as harmful
Legal Aspect: Licensed Practitioners
Training may be good, minimal or non-existent
- May not be professionally regulated
Legal Aspect: Costs/ Payments
May (not) be covered by insurance
Working with Clients & CAM
- Be open to the conversation with the client
- They often won’t walk with physicians about this - Listen to what they have to say and ask curious questions
- Work with their views to find out more - Withhold judgment as much as you can
- Doesn’t mean you have to agree with them - Get to the “why” they are using/ want to use this
- The “why” will tell you what’s really going on/wrong
Questions/things to think about/ask when working with clients & CAM
- Will this help or harm the client? Or do nothing?
- If harm: should engage client and intervene
- Minors: more serious, typically more risk than adults - Risk-benefit assessment with client may be needed
- Can be deadly interactions or preventable deaths - Difficult conversation to have with client/family
- Be neutral and work towards finding out the “why”
- Take the emotion and judgment out of the conversation
As an RN what can you do?
- Learn more about the types/uses of CAM
- Use a client-specific approach
- Not everyone of same culture uses the same thing - Create the space for the clients to talk
- There is always a WHY- can open up better outcomes
