Week 9 Flashcards
What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
‘A group of therapeutic and diagnostic disciplines that exist largely outside the institutions where conventional healthcare is taught and provided’ Zollman & Vickers
‘A broad set of health care practices that are not part of that countrys’ own tradition and are not integrated into dominant health care system’ (WHO 2000)
What is traditional medicine
“Traditional medicine has a long history. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skill and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness” (WHO 2019)
Defining CAMs
NCCIH:
Complementary- when a non-mainstream practice is used together with conventional medicine
Alternative- when a non-mainstream practice is used instead of conventional medicine
Can be overlap
How many people use CAM
Over the counter OTC usage greater than therapist usage
Higher rates of use among patients with chronic and difficult to manage diseases
Among cancer patients 19% to 57.7% depending on population surveyed and type of cancer
Factors facilitating growth of interest in and use of complementary and alternative medicine
Popular dissatisfaction with orthodox medicine
Post modern philosophy-rejection of (scientific authority, increase in consumerism, importance of individual responsibility for health)
Widespread availability and access to health info
National centre for complementary and integrative health NCCIH
Alternative medical systems
Mind-body therapies
Natural products
Manipulative and body-based methods
Energy therapies
alternative medical systems
Built upon complete systems of theory and practice e.g homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda
Mind-body therapies
Uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the minds capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms e.g. meditation, prayers, music therapy
Natural products
Use natural substances e.g dietary supplements, herbal products
Manipulative and body-based methods
Movement of one or more parts of body e.g. chiropractic, osteopathy , massage
Energy therapies
Involves the use of energy fields. Biofield therapies are intended to affect energy fields that purportedly surround and penetrate the human body
Most popular therapies
Herbal medicine
Homeopathy
Aromatherapy
Massage
Reflexology
User characteristics
Female gender
Middle aged
Higher socio-economic groups
Higher level of education
High income
Regional differences (south England)
Ethnicity
Poorer self reported health
Recognised patterns of use of complementary medicine
Earnest seekers: have an intractable health problem for which they try many forms of treatment
Stabile users: either use one type of therapy for most of their healthcare problems or have one main problem for which they use a regular package of one or more complementary therapies
Eclectic users: choose and use different forms of therapy depending on individual problems and circumstances
One-off users: discontinue complementary treatment after limited experimentation
Why do people use CAM positive
Perceived effectiveness
Perceived safety
Philosophical congruence
Control over treatment
‘High touch’/‘low tech’
Good patient/ therapist relationship (Enough time, on equal terms, emotional factors, empathy)
Non-invasive nature
Accessibility
Pleasant therapeutic experience
Affluence
