The Situation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine / Integrative Medicine in Finland: Genuine Research Is Needed

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 317-320
Author(s):  
Peter Josef Zimmermann ◽  
Pauliina Aarva ◽  
Minna Sorsa
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Integrative Medicine ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Network ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Academic Discussion ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

The official acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or integrative medicine in the academic discussion and in health policies in Finland is still poor. This is in contradiction to the fact that modern Finnish citizens use CAM as much as any people elsewhere in the European Union, with rates of 28-46% of the general population, or even more. This was one of the reasons for the foundation of the Finnish Forum for Research in Integrative Medicine and Healthcare (SILF) in November 2014. A first challenge for the SILF was to facilitate a research seminar to address the issue of CAM research as a part of the Finnish academic research. The seminar was organized by the Department of Health Sciences of the University of Tampere on November 13, 2015. Almost one third of the more than 400 participants were health professionals, and again one-third out of this group were physicians. As a result of the seminar, a research network was inaugurated. Obviously there is an increasing interest of health professionals in CAM and maybe even a change of attitude towards CAM also in Finland. However, genuine Finnish CAM research is essential in order to open up the academic discussion.

scholarly journals “I’ve Only Just Heard About It”: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Knowledge and Educational Needs of Clinical Psychologists in Indonesia

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrian Liem
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background and objectives: The inadequate knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among health professionals may put their clients at risk because clients would then find information about CAM from unreliable sources. Clinical psychologists (CPs), as health professionals, also have the opportunity to provide psychoeducation on the latest scientific CAM research for their clients. The current study aimed to explore knowledge and educational needs regarding CAM among CPs in Indonesia because previous studies on exploring CAM knowledge and educational needs regarding CAM were primarily conducted in Western countries. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 43 CPs in public health centers (PHCs) in Indonesia. Most interviews were conducted at the PHCs where the participants worked and lasted for 55 minutes on average. The interview recordings were transcribed and were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Results: Five main themes emerged within participants’ responses regarding CAM knowledge and educational needs. First (CAM understanding), participants’ responses ranged from those with little or no prior knowledge of CAM treatments and uses, to those with much greater familiarity. Second (source of knowledge), participants’ access ranged widely in terms of references, from popular to scientific literature. Third (why is it important?), participants identified CAM as an essential part of Indonesian culture and considered it therefore crucial to have this cultural knowledge. Fourth (the challenges and what is needed?), the challenges for improving participants’ knowledge came from personal and institutional levels. Fifth (what and how to learn?), participants advised that only CAM treatments that fit in brief psychotherapy sessions should be introduced in professional training. Conclusions: This qualitative study discovered that CAM was neither well-known nor understood widely. Participants advised that professional associations and health institutions should work together in enhancing knowledge of CAM and incorporating CAM education into psychology education.

Indonesian clinical psychologists’ perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine research and knowledge: a content analysis study

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrian Liem
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Purpose As part of a nationwide research about knowledge, attitude, experiences and educational needs towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Indonesian clinical psychologists (CPs), the purpose of this paper is to explore CPs’ perceptions of CAM research and their interest in learning CAM. Design/methodology/approach A link to an online survey was e-mailed to all 1,045 CPs across Indonesia. At the end of the survey, two open-ended questions were asked: “What do you think about CAM research in Indonesia?” and “Why are you interested in learning about CAM?”, which were responded to by 127 participants (87 per cent of females; Mage=36.67, SD=9.02). Participants’ responses were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Findings It was found that two global themes for CPs’ perceptions of CAM were to improve participants’ professionalism and as part of continuing education and development for mental health professionals. The favourable responses in this study may reflect participants’ willingness to be involved in collaborative CAM research and education. Moreover, CAM was perceived as part of Indonesian culture and participants viewed CAM research and knowledge as a chance to promote Indonesian local wisdom to complement conventional psychotherapy. Research limitations/implications These findings might call for stakeholders to integrate CAM knowledge into psychology education, facilitate CAM research in psychology settings and encourage collaborative CAM research. However, self-selection bias may limit the findings of this study. Originality/value This study explored perceptions of CAM research and interest in learning CAM that have rarely been investigated among mental health professionals and particularly, until now, have not been investigated in Indonesia.

Communication about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Danish Oncological Settings: An Intervention Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 392-400
Author(s):  
Nina Nissen ◽  
Sara Seerup Laursen ◽  
Henriette Knold Rossau
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> Communication about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) between cancer patients and health professionals rarely takes place. This article reports on an intervention study that aimed to support communication about the use and effects of CAM between cancer patients and care providers. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The intervention consisted of the use of evidence-based information material (website; leaflet) about the effects of CAM for cancer. Focus groups with cancer patients, relatives, nurses and doctors (<i>n</i> = 50) determined the preferred content and format of materials and evaluated the intervention. The information material was informed by a related systematic metareview of literature. A survey identified patient participants’ CAM use, information sources, and the extent of communication about CAM before and after the intervention. <b><i>Results:</i></b> No significant impact of the intervention on communication about CAM for cancer patients, patients’ CAM use or sources of information was identified. Health professionals disseminated the leaflet only in response to patients raising the topic; the website was not accessed during consultations. The intervention and information materials were well received. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Cancer patients and care providers wish to improve communication about CAM. Nevertheless, patients and professionals wait for the other to broach the subject of CAM. This reflects a “culture of waiting.”

scholarly journals Collaborations between Allopathic and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Health Professionals: Four Initiatives

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 962-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne R. Nedrow ◽  
Margaret Heitkemper ◽  
Moshe Frenkel ◽  
Douglas Mann ◽  
Peter Wayne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

scholarly journals EU FP7 Project ‘CAMbrella’ to Build European Research Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Weidenhammer ◽  
George Lewith ◽  
Torkel Falkenberg ◽  
Vinjar Fønnebø ◽  
Helle Johannessen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Research Network ◽  
European Research ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

scholarly journals “I’ve only just heard about it”: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Knowledge and Educational Needs of Clinical Psychologists in Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrian Liem
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background and objectives: The inadequate knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among health professionals may put their clients in risky situation because they then would find information about CAM from unreliable sources. Clinical psychologists (CPs), as health professionals, have also the opportunity to provide psychoeducation on the latest CAM scientific research to their clients. The current study aimed to explore knowledge and educational needs of CAM among CPs in Indonesia because previous studies on exploring CAM knowledge and educational needs of CAM were primarily conducted in Western countries. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 43 CPs in public health centers (PHCs) in Indonesia. Most interviews were held at the PHCs where participants worked and interviews lasted for 55 minutes, on average. The interview recordings were transcribed and were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Results: Five main themes emerged within participants&rsquo; responses regarding CAM knowledge and educational needs. First (CAM understanding), participants&rsquo; responses ranged from those with little or no prior knowledge of CAM treatments and uses, to those with much greater familiarity. Second (source of knowledge), participants&rsquo; access ranged widely in terms of references, from popular to scientific literature. Third (why is it important?), participants identified CAM essentially as part of Indonesian culture and it was therefore crucial to have this cultural knowledge. Fourth (the challenges and what is needed?), the challenges for improving participants&rsquo; knowledge came from personal and institutional levels. Fifth (what and how to learn?), participants advised that only CAM treatments that fit in brief psychotherapy sessions should be introduced in professional training. Conclusions: This qualitative study discovered that CAM was neither well-known nor understood widely. Participants advised that professional associations and health institutions should work together in enhancing knowledge of CAM and incorporating CAM education into psychology education.

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