The need for CAM research training.

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the amount and quality of research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and according to a survey, German medical universities have an interest CAM research [1]. Nevertheless, compared to other fields of study, the number of researchers in Europe specialising in CAM has remained very small, whereas the number of physicians practicing CAM is still growing. This discrepancy may have several causes. It is conceivable, for example, that many physicians who practice CAM trust more in experience and expert knowledge than in the results of clinical trials. In addition, research methodology has become increasingly sophisticated, and the formal hurdles related to ethical approval and quality assurance are high. Research is conducted primarily by universities or industry, leaving individual physicians with little opportunity to gather experience or apply for funding. To further improve the quality of CAM research and to increase its practical relevance, it is crucial that ambitious young professionals be equipped with both practical and methodological skills. Treating patients and conducting research are not mutually exclusive, and for some CAM practitioners the combination of both may be an interesting option. However, barriers are high for young physicians who want to get a first taste of research, and outside of a university career they do not have the opportunity to receive proper training in research methodology. To date, courses on evidence-based medicine have focused on the critical appraisal of clinical studies, but have not taught students how to conduct them. Other summer schools on epidemiology focus almost exclusively on epidemiological studies and spend very little time on clinical research. Therefore, to meet the special challenges in CAM research [2] and to motivate more CAM practitioners to pursue research, specially tailored training is needed. With this in mind, and after some years of discussion, we have attempted to take a first step in this direction by offering an introductory summer school on CAM research methods. Upon completing the programme, participants will have a basic knowledge of a range of study designs (e.g. randomised trials, observational studies, single-case research, economic studies, meta-analyses) and specific methodological issues related to selecting participants, randomising patients, choosing controls, ensuring proper blinding, and measuring outcomes, etc. A pilot course was offered during the summer of 2007 and was made possible thanks to encouragement and funding from the Robert Bosch Foundation. In a 4-day seminar, the 18 participants learned which study types are best suited to answer which research questions. The participants were also trained to appraise clinical research studies criti cally, to understand the statistical findings of clinical studies, to perform simple sample-size calculations and basic statistical analyses, and to design their own study while taking into account specific problems related to CAM. The summer school will be distinguished by its practically oriented training, an e-learning platform, a congenial atmosphere, and very low costs for participants. The two main course instructors (Claudia Witt and Klaus Linde) participated in all lectures so as to provide a range of experience and to include questions raised in the lectures in subsequent lessons. In addition, the classes in statistics were taught by a statistician with experience in CAM (Rainer Lüdtke). The participants in the first summer school, which was conducted in German, were from Germany (14), Austria (2), and Switzerland (2). The mean age was 43 years (range 26–60 years) and 56% of the participants were women. Nearly all of the participants had conducted previous research or planned their first clinical studies. Some participants were educators, themselves, and were thus in a position to disseminate the knowledge they acquired in the summer school. The programme was evaluated by participants using a validated questionnaire, and its overall quality was rated as very high. 069_070_editorial_witt:069_070_editorial_witt 23.04.2008 13:36 Uhr Seite 69