Complementary Medicine
If you have an interest in joining the group please contact George Lewith
at the Complementary Medicine Research Unit within the Department of Primary Care at Southampton http://www.cam-research-group.co.uk
Summary of Aims
Whatever attitude an individual primary care practitioner might have towards complementary and integrated medicine (CIM), s/he can no longer ignore it if only for the reason that patients are increasingly using CIM, with or without their practitioner’s knowledge. The conditions for which CIM therapies are used are the everyday conditions occurring in primary care i.e. generally for chronic conditions. But there is a lack of good, relevant research evidence about CIM and its place in primary care. The reasons for this include
- the wide range of questions it raises (Why do patients want it? Who should pay? Is it safe and effective?)
- the need for a range of research methodologies
- the diversity of therapies sheltering under the title ‘CIM’, from herbal medicine to crystal therapy
- the fundamental issues that CIM research raises (e.g. placebo controlled trials might not always be essential or possible)
- resistance from grant bodies and ethics committees to these novel research questions
- the need for researchers interested in CIM to collaborate, particularly in developing possibly novel methodologies to deal with the particular problems raised
- the difficulties in involving CIM practitioners in research (given their strong clinical orientation)
Fortunately, there is now increasing interest in conducting good research in CIM. We believe it is important to maintain a special interest group to facilitate discussion and networking regarding CIM research issues. We hope to attract a broad spectrum of researchers with a range of methodological and CIM expertise, both from academic departments with a track record in CIM research and from individuals working in other departments who hope to expand their research activity in this area. Both clinical and non-clinical members will be encouraged and the group hopes to reflect the diversity of approaches used in CIM research. The group will aim to make links with CIM therapists working within NHS primary care and include them as members as these are key players who may be under-represented within SAPC.
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