Integrative Medicine (IM) is the most recent concept on the Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) debate, regarding the introduction and management of new practices in the health systems. This paper analyzed the different definitions of IM and its relation to CAM, through a systematic literature review on Medline, during the period of 1996 to 2005. The keyword "Integrative Medicine" was...

This opinion deals critically with the so-called complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapy on the basis of current data. From the authors' perspective, CAM prescriptions and most notably the extensive current endeavours to the "integration" of CAM into conventional patient care is problematic in several respects. Thus, several CAM measures are used, although no specific effects of med...

BACKGROUND Complementary and alternate medicine (CAM) has been defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products not presently considered part of conventional medicine (CM). Studies in different countries have revealed a geographical difference in the knowledge about CAM therapies, especially among medical school staff and students. This study aimed to assess...

Interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing worldwide, even in Vietnam where traditional medicine is considered mainstream. We conducted a survey of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of CAM therapies among physicians in oriental medicine (OM) hospitals in Vietnam. A two-stage random selection process selected 337 physicians who were interviewed using a face-to-face...

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recently cosponsored a workshop on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cardiovascular, lung, and blood research. In view of the increasing use of CAM by the general public, it is imperative to promote credible research by the established biomedical community. T...

The goal of this study was to elucidate the basis for the appeal of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) and the basis upon which people distinguish between CAM and conventional medicine. Undergraduates (N = 173) rated 19 approaches to the treatment of chronic back pain on 16 rating scales. Data were analyzed via 3-mode factor analysis, which extracted conceptual dimensions common to both t...

OBJECTIVE To determine the knowledge, perceived effectiveness and harmfulness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, general attitude and the need for education in the use of CAM therapies among medical and pharmacy students. METHODS A descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed using a pre-tested questionnaire on a randomly selected sample of 250 students in Facu...

BACKGROUND Infertility patients are a vulnerable group that often seeks a non-medical solution for their failure to conceive. World-wide, women use CAM for productive health, but only a limited number of studies report on CAM use to enhance fertility. Little is known about traditional and religious forms of therapies that are used in relation to conventional medicine in Turkey. We investigated ...

Practice outside of mainstream or conventional medicine has always been an important part of public healthcare in some countries, particularly in the developing world. Recently the use of complementary-alternative medicine (CAM) has grown in popularity worldwide. Western studies showed that 42% of Americans, 52% of Australians, and between 20% and 65% of Europeans use some form of CAM.1-5 Howev...

BACKGROUND Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is in the spotlight of society. However, what is the position of physicians at this point? OBJECTIVES To determine general practitioners' (GP) knowledge, attitudes, and approaches to CAM. METHODS All GPs (n=521) practicing in Bursa Province, Turkey were surveyed by a questionnaire. RESULTS Responses from 49% of GPs were analyzed. Alt...