Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:17:28.720Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

How Should we Research Unconventional Therapies? A Panel Report from the Conference on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Methodology, National Institutes of Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Andrew Vickers ,
Barrie Cassileth ,
Edzard Ernst ,
Peter Fisher ,
Peter Goldman ,
Wayne Jonas ,
Sung-Keel Kang ,
George Lewith ,
Ken Schulz  and
Chris Silagy
Andrew Vickers
Affiliation:
Research Council for Complementary Medicine
Barrie Cassileth
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Edzard Ernst
Affiliation:
University of Exeter
Peter Fisher
Affiliation:
Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
Peter Goldman
Affiliation:
Harvard School of Public Health
Wayne Jonas
Affiliation:
National Institutes of Health
Sung-Keel Kang
Affiliation:
College of Oriental Medicine
George Lewith
Affiliation:
University of Southhampton
Ken Schulz
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chris Silagy
Affiliation:
Flinders University of South Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Research in unconventional medicine requires a number of different questions to build up a “mosaic” of evidence. Choice of research design depends on the question being asked and is independent of the therapy under investigation. Despite the doubts of some practitioners, randomized trials are of value for determining certain questions in alternative medicine.

Type
General Essays
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , Winter 1997 , pp. 111 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Atherton, D. J., Sheehan, M. P., & Rustin, M.Trditional Chinese plants for eczema. Lancet, 1991, 338, 510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Cassileth, B. R., Lusk, E. J., Miller, D. S., Brown, L. L., Miller, C.Psychosocial correlates of survival in advanced malignant disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 1985, 312, 1551–55.Google Scholar
3.Clavel, F., & Paoletti, C.A study of various smoking cessation programs based on close to 1000 volunteers recruited from the general population: 1-month results. Revue d'Epidemiologie et de Sante Publique, 1990, 38, 133–38.Google ScholarPubMed
4.Dale, A., & Cornwell, S.The role of lavender oil in relieving perineal discomfort following childbirth: A blind, randomised clinical trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1994, 19, 89–96.Google Scholar
5.Davis, P.Subtle aromatherapy. Saffron Walden: CW Daniel, 1991.Google Scholar
6.Dundee, J. W., Chestnutt, W. N., Ghaly, R. G., & Lynas, A. G.Traditional Chinese acupuncture: A potentially useful anitemetic? British Medical Journal, 1986, 293, 583–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Dundee, J. W., Ghaly, R. G., Fitzpatrick, K. T., et al. Acupuncture to prevent cisplatin-associated vomiting. Lancet, 1987, 1083.Google Scholar
8.Dundee, J. W., Sourial, F. B., Ghaly, R. G., & Bell, P. F.P6 acupressure reduces morning sickness. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1988, 81, 456–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Dundee, J. W., Yang, J.Prolongation of the antiemetic action of P6 acupuncture by acupressure in patients having cancer chemotherapy. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1990, 83, 360–62.Google Scholar
10.Dundee, J. W., Yang, J, & McMillan, C.Non-invasive stimulation of the P6 (Neiguan) antiemetic acupuncture point in cancer chemotherapy. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1991, 84, 210–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Echt, D. S., Liebson, P. R., Mitchell, L. B., et al. Mortality and morbidity in patients receiving encainide, flecainide, or placebo: The cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. New England Journal of Medicine, 1991, 324, 781–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Fisher, P.Research into homeopathic treatment of rheumatological disease: Why and how? Complementary Medical Research, 1990, 4, 34–40.Google Scholar
13.Fuller, J. A.Smoking withdrawl and acupuncture. Medical Journal of Australia, 1982, 1, 25–29.Google Scholar
14.Gellert, G. A., Maxwell, R. M., & Siegel, B. S.Survival of breast cancer patients receiving adjunctive psychosocial support therapy: A 10-year follow-up study. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 1993, 11, 66–69.Google Scholar
15.Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., van der Heijen, G. J. M. G., et al. Spinal manipulation and mobilisation for back and neck pain: A blinded review. British Medical Journal, 1991, 303, 1298–303.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Koes, B. W., Bouter, L. M., van Maneren, H., et al. Randomised clinical trial of manipulative therapy and physiotherapy for persistent back and neck complaints: Results of one year follow up. British Medical Journal, 1992, 304, 601–05.Google Scholar
17.Lamontagne, Y., Lawrence, A., & Gagnon, M. A.Acupuncture for smokers: Lack of long-term effect in a controlled study. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1980, 5, 787–90.Google Scholar
18.Mayaux, M. J., Guihard-Moscato, M. L., Schwartz, D., et al. Controlled clinical trial of homeopathy in postoperative ileus. Lancet, 1988, 1, 528–29.Google Scholar
19.McMillan, C. M., & Dundee, J. W.The role of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of Neiguan anti-emetic acupuncture point in controlling sickness after cancer chemotherapy. Physiotherapy, 1991, 77, 499–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Price, S., & Price, L.Aromatherapy for health professionals. London: Churchill Living-stone, 1995.Google Scholar
21.Rogers, C. R.On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. London: Constable, 1961.Google Scholar
Quoted by: Mills, S.Conflicting research needs in complementary medicine. Complementary Medicine Research, 1986, 1, 40–47.Google Scholar
22.Sacks, H. S., Chalmers, T. C., et al. Sensitivity and specificity of clinical trials: Randomized versus historical controls. Archives of Internal Medicine, 1983, 143, 753–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Scheid, V.Orientalism revisited. European Journal of Oriental Medicine, 1993, 1, 23–33.Google Scholar
24.Schultz, K. F., Chalmers, I., Hayes, R. J., & Altman, D. G.Empirical evidence of bias. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1995, 273, 408–12.Google Scholar
25.Sheehan, M. P., & Atherton, D. J.A controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicinal plants in widespread non-exudative atopic eczema. British Journal of Dermatology, 1992, 126, 179–84.Google Scholar
26.Sheehan, M. P., & Atherton, D. J.One-year follow up of children treated with Chinese medicinal herbs for atopic eczema. British Journal of Dermatology, 1994, 130 488–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27.Sheehan, M. P., Rustin, M. H., Atherton, D. J., et al. Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal therapy in adult atopic dermatitis. Lancet, 1992, 303, 1298–303.Google Scholar
28.Shipley, M., Berry, H., Broster, G., et al. Controlled trial of homoeopathic treatment of osteoarthritis. Lancet, 1983, i, 97–98.Google Scholar
29.Taylor Reilly, D., McSharry, C., Taylor, M. A., & Aitchison, T.Is homeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as a model. Lancet, 1986, II, 881–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar