The prevalence, patterns of usage and people's attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among the Indian community in Chatsworth, South Africa
The prevalence of CAM in Chatsworth is similar to findings in other parts of the
world. Although CAM was used to treat many different ailments, this practice could not be
attributed to any particular demographic profile. The majority of CAM users were satisfied with
the effects of CAM. Findings support a need for greater integration of allopathic medicine and
CAM, as well as improved communication between patients and caregivers regarding CAM usage.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients at the Unive...home
CAM use is common among cancer patients in Nigeria. Most users do not obtain the
expected benefits, and adverse events are not uncommon. Every clinician in the field of oncology
should ask his/her patients about the use of CAM; this knowledge will enable them to better
counsel the patients
The FDA plans to prioritize improvements in the quality of demographic subgroup data collection, reporting and analysis, encourages greater participation of diverse patients, and supports the transparency of subgroup data. To this end, ways to recruit, engage, educate, and study those of diverse backgrounds to alopecia areata trials will be discussed.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients at the Unive...home
CAM use is common among cancer patients in Nigeria. Most users do not obtain the
expected benefits, and adverse events are not uncommon. Every clinician in the field of oncology
should ask his/her patients about the use of CAM; this knowledge will enable them to better
counsel the patients
The FDA plans to prioritize improvements in the quality of demographic subgroup data collection, reporting and analysis, encourages greater participation of diverse patients, and supports the transparency of subgroup data. To this end, ways to recruit, engage, educate, and study those of diverse backgrounds to alopecia areata trials will be discussed.
Patient Related Barriers Associated with Under Enrollment in Hospice: A ReviewQUESTJOURNAL
Background: Hospice care provides better quality of life compared with usual care, and focuses on caring, rather than curing. Many factors facing cancer patients at the last days of life prevent them from enrollment in hospice. Purpose:to identify the barriers associated with hospice under enrollment for terminally ill cancer patients. Methodology: an integrative literature review design was utilized, CINAHL, and PubMed were accessed by using key words (hospice, barriers, and cancer patients), and after applying inclusion criteria 8 articles were considered to meet the purpose of this review. Findings: through reviewing literatures,15% of hospice patients dis enrolled from hospice due to long-stay hospitalization, hospital death, & higher medicare expenditure with in sufficient insurance coverage (financial burden), and some other factors may contribute in under enrollment in hospice such as knowledge deficiency with misconception of hospice terminology and scope,mistrust of health care professionals, death timing, and some policies may create a barrier and restrict access to care for hospice. Conclusion:factors that may be associated with under enrollment of terminally ill cancer patients in hospice were lack of knowledge and misperception of hospice scope, emotional, physical and financial burden toward patient and family, death timing and bad quality of care
Branch vital, angela condom use among african-american women-nfmij-6-1-09William Kritsonis
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Dr. Kritsonis has served as an elementary school teacher, elementary and middle school principal, superintendent of schools, director of student teaching and field experiences, professor, author, consultant, and journal editor. Dr. Kritsonis has considerable experience in chairing PhD dissertations and master thesis and has supervised practicums for teacher candidates, curriculum supervisors, central office personnel, principals, and superintendents. He also has experience in teaching in doctoral and masters programs in elementary and secondary education as well as educational leadership and supervision. He has earned the rank as professor at three universities in two states, including successful post-tenure reviews.
Hepatitis C Risk Assessment, Testing and Referral for Treatment in primary Ca...Real Wellness, LLC
Dr. Robert Winn worked with a team to determine rates of hepatitis C (HCV) risk factor ascertainment, testing, and referral in urban primary care practices, with particular attention to the effect of race and ethnicity.
This keynote speech was delivered by Janet Freeman-Daily to the IASLC 2017 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology on September 14, 2017.
Existing value frameworks for cancer care omit a key component: patient-defined value. This presentation looks at some patient perspectives on value found in patient-driven research, discusses the importance of shared decision making and goals of care discussions, and shares resources to help clinicians incorporate patient-defined value in cancer care.
Overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major public health concern in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it more difficult for physicians to easily treat many infections.
Health System and Beneficiary Costs Associated With Intensive End-of-Life Med...Δρ. Γιώργος K. Κασάπης
Given the low income of many elderly patients in the United States, the financial consequences of medically intensive services may be substantial. Costs of medically intensive services at the end of life, including patient financial consequences, should be considered by both physicians and families.
A disproportionate share of medical spending is provided to patients in their last year of life. Much of that difference is no doubt because of unavoidable costs of serious illness. However, for patients with cancer, it is often possible to predict when intensive medical services have lost much of their potential benefit. For that reason, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommend a reduction in use of intensive medical services at the end of life, noting it is at odds with the focus on palliation and reduction in patient suffering that should characterize health care at this time.
Patient Related Barriers Associated with Under Enrollment in Hospice: A ReviewQUESTJOURNAL
Background: Hospice care provides better quality of life compared with usual care, and focuses on caring, rather than curing. Many factors facing cancer patients at the last days of life prevent them from enrollment in hospice. Purpose:to identify the barriers associated with hospice under enrollment for terminally ill cancer patients. Methodology: an integrative literature review design was utilized, CINAHL, and PubMed were accessed by using key words (hospice, barriers, and cancer patients), and after applying inclusion criteria 8 articles were considered to meet the purpose of this review. Findings: through reviewing literatures,15% of hospice patients dis enrolled from hospice due to long-stay hospitalization, hospital death, & higher medicare expenditure with in sufficient insurance coverage (financial burden), and some other factors may contribute in under enrollment in hospice such as knowledge deficiency with misconception of hospice terminology and scope,mistrust of health care professionals, death timing, and some policies may create a barrier and restrict access to care for hospice. Conclusion:factors that may be associated with under enrollment of terminally ill cancer patients in hospice were lack of knowledge and misperception of hospice scope, emotional, physical and financial burden toward patient and family, death timing and bad quality of care
Branch vital, angela condom use among african-american women-nfmij-6-1-09William Kritsonis
Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Editor-in-Chief, NATIONAL FORUM JOURNALS (Founded 1982). Dr. Kritsonis has served as an elementary school teacher, elementary and middle school principal, superintendent of schools, director of student teaching and field experiences, professor, author, consultant, and journal editor. Dr. Kritsonis has considerable experience in chairing PhD dissertations and master thesis and has supervised practicums for teacher candidates, curriculum supervisors, central office personnel, principals, and superintendents. He also has experience in teaching in doctoral and masters programs in elementary and secondary education as well as educational leadership and supervision. He has earned the rank as professor at three universities in two states, including successful post-tenure reviews.
Hepatitis C Risk Assessment, Testing and Referral for Treatment in primary Ca...Real Wellness, LLC
Dr. Robert Winn worked with a team to determine rates of hepatitis C (HCV) risk factor ascertainment, testing, and referral in urban primary care practices, with particular attention to the effect of race and ethnicity.
This keynote speech was delivered by Janet Freeman-Daily to the IASLC 2017 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology on September 14, 2017.
Existing value frameworks for cancer care omit a key component: patient-defined value. This presentation looks at some patient perspectives on value found in patient-driven research, discusses the importance of shared decision making and goals of care discussions, and shares resources to help clinicians incorporate patient-defined value in cancer care.
Overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major public health concern in the US according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it more difficult for physicians to easily treat many infections.
Health System and Beneficiary Costs Associated With Intensive End-of-Life Med...Δρ. Γιώργος K. Κασάπης
Given the low income of many elderly patients in the United States, the financial consequences of medically intensive services may be substantial. Costs of medically intensive services at the end of life, including patient financial consequences, should be considered by both physicians and families.
A disproportionate share of medical spending is provided to patients in their last year of life. Much of that difference is no doubt because of unavoidable costs of serious illness. However, for patients with cancer, it is often possible to predict when intensive medical services have lost much of their potential benefit. For that reason, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommend a reduction in use of intensive medical services at the end of life, noting it is at odds with the focus on palliation and reduction in patient suffering that should characterize health care at this time.
Similar to The prevalence, patterns of usage and people's attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among the Indian community in Chatsworth, South Africa
Knowledge and attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine among ...home
Majority of the medical students were familiar with the CAM methods widely used in Turkey, while
most of them had positive attitudes towards CAM as well as willingness to receive training on the subject, and they
were likely to recommend CAM methods to their patients in their future professional lives. With its gradual scientific
development and increasing popularity, there appears a need for a coordinated policy in integrating CAM into the
medical curriculum, by taking expectations of and feedback from medical students into consideration in setting
educational standards
Conversations About Financial Issues in Routine Oncology Practices: A Multice...Melissa Paige
"We performed qualitative thematic analysis of 529 unique patient encounters from two National Cancer Institue-designated cancer centers and an academic-led county safety-net hospital that were audio recorded prospectively during a three-site communication study"
To evaluate the benefits of Structured Medication Reviews in elderly Chinese ...Health Innovation Wessex
The Health Innovation Network Polypharmacy programme is working with healthcare professionals to address problematic polypharmacy by supporting easier identification of patients at potential risk from harm from multiple medications.
Our evidence-based polypharmacy Action Learning Sets (ALS) are being rolled out across England to support GPs, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals who undertake prescribing or medication reviews to understand the complex issues around stopping inappropriate medicines safely.
To drive and accelerate changes in practice, delegates complete a quality improvement project to address problematic polypharmacy in their workplace. This poster summary, To evaluate the benefits of Structured Medication Reviews in elderly Chinese patients, can be viewed here.
For more information about the polypharmacy programme, please visit https://thehealthinnovationnetwork.co.uk/programmes/medicines/polypharmacy/
African Americans men are at a greater risk for developing prostate .docxkatherncarlyle
African Americans men are at a greater risk for developing prostate cancer than the white men. In every six individuals from this ethnic group, there is one who is at risk of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. African Americans are 1.8 times more exposed to the risk of developing the disease and 2.2 times more likely succumb from this disease as compared to white men. The increase in the higher risk of prostate cancer among Africa Americans is linked to socioeconomic status. There is a lower socioeconomic status of African Americans and this exposing to high cases of prostate cancer as a result of poor medical check-up and poor healthcare outcomes (Owens et al., 2014).
There are also racial biases and this is harming African Americans in terms of preventive care since they have lower chances of being provided with the PSA test. Recent studies reveal that men from this ethnic group are unlikely to have early diagnosis for the prostate cancer. They are also not likely to be treated in time for the disease like the white men. There are several treatment options and learning sources about the options for prostate cancer. Therefore, the evidence-based, primary care health promotion recommendation to deal with prostate cancer among African Americans involves the prevention programs that are tailored to African Americans to help in the reduction of health disparities (Jackson, Owens, Friedman, & Dubose-Morris, 2015).
There is a need to incorporate culturally suitable and targeted messages and the images, the performance of faith-based initiatives, and the delivery of the educational programs in non-traditional venues for example the common place where people gather. It is also important to include key partners and the stakeholder in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the health and the cancer educational programs to help in the improvement of the health of the community and supporting community engagement. The development of the IDM education program for African American families through working with the community and the clinical partners is helping in the reduction of prostate cancer diseases (Jackson et al., 2015).
References
Jackson, D. D., Owens, O. L., Friedman, D. B., & Dubose-Morris, R. (2015). Innovative and Community-Guided Evaluation and Dissemination of a Prostate Cancer Education Program for African-American Men and Women.
Journal of Cancer Education, 30
(4), 779-785.
Owens, O. L., Friedman, D. B., Hebert JR, & Jackson, D. D. (2014). An intergenerational approach to prostate cancer education: Findings from a pilot project in the Southeastern USA.
J of Cancer Educ., 29
(4), 649-656.
.
The U.S Healthcare System, African Americans and the Notion of Toughing It Ou...Chelsea Dade, MS
This project presentation will explore whether or not African American adults are less engaged patients, and whether the notion of toughing it out plays a significant role regarding how African Americans interact with their healthcare.
The Tuskegee Experiment was not the first time that African Americans were experimented on for scientific gain. One book that examines this history is titled Medical Apartheid (Washington, 2006). The novel dives into the dark history of medical experiments on Blacks, including, but not limited to inhumane slavery assessments and Marion Sims’ gynecologic obscenities on Black women (Wall, 2006). Though these debacles occurred decades ago, I propose that these events may continue to play a role in the way African Americans interact with the American healthcare system. Today, there are rules in place to prevent such issues with consent. However, after historically being placed in positions marked by humiliation and mistreatment based on skin color, I wanted to obtain a clearer understanding of whether or not African Americans have responded to the effects of these events by limiting their trust of other people, creating gender norms within their communities, and “toughing it out”.
The structure of this power point presentation for my final paper from HLTHCOMM440, Engaging Patients in Care, will begin by defining this demographic by its key cultural attributes. Second, the paper will highlight research on how one health belief, “toughing it out”, effects African American patient engagement levels. Third, the paper will summarize and discuss the methodology and results from a standardized patient engagement survey, and compare them to the existing literature. Finally, this paper will highlight a hypothetical federally funded health care program, titled “Mandating Mental Health First Aid in Chicago Businesses”, which will require all mid-size and large companies in Chicago to train human resources professionals in “Mental Health First Aid”. This intervention not only benefits African American employees in Chicago, but entire staffs in Chicago in general. In this way, the program does not target African Americans, but seeks to offer helpful resources on mental health that due to either a lack of access or stigmatization, some African Americans may or may not have be aware of. Therefore, the point of having this program is to help employees , especially newer employees, feel supported as the manage the many facets of their lives. Whether or not resources are utilized will depend on many individualistic factors that are including in this presentation. However, the first step towards health equity is to offer equal resources, to everyone.
For access to the standardized survey, please contact Chelsea Dade via email (chelseadade2018@u.northwestern.edu).
Pharmacology and Diverse Populations Scoring GuideCRITERIA.docxmattjtoni51554
Pharmacology and Diverse Populations Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
Describe the health
concerns and issues
for a population.
Does not describe
the health concerns
and issues for a
population.
Identifies the health
concerns and issues
for a population.
Describes the health
concerns and issues
for a population.
Describes the health
concerns and issues
for a population and
includes information on
rates of occurrence,
severity, and mortality.
Describe current
pharmacological
treatment regimens
for the health
concerns and issues
of a population.
Does not describe
current
pharmacological
treatment regimens
for the health
concerns and issues
of a population.
Lists current
pharmacological
treatment regimens for
the health concerns
and issues of a
population or describes
pharmacological
treatment regimens
that are not current.
Describes current
pharmacological
treatment regimens
for the health
concerns and issues
of a population.
Describes current
pharmacological and
non-pharmacological
treatment regimens for
the health concerns
and issues of a
population.
Explain traditional
beliefs and practices
of a population with
regard to health
concerns and
issues.
Does not explain
traditional beliefs and
practices of a
population with
regard to health
concerns and issues.
Identifies traditional
beliefs and practices of
a population with
regard to health
concerns and issues.
Explains traditional
beliefs and practices
of a population with
regard to health
concerns and
issues.
Explains traditional
beliefs and practices of
a population with
regard to health
concerns and issues
and includes how the
beliefs and practices
are carried out and
their effect on the
health concerns.
Explain how the
cultural values and
traditional practices
of a population
affect the
acceptance and use
of pharmacology.
Does not explain
how the cultural
values and traditional
practices of a
population affect the
acceptance and use
of pharmacology.
Explains how the
cultural values and
traditional practices of
a population affect the
acceptance and use of
pharmacology, but the
explanation is
incomplete or missing
supporting evidence.
Explains how the
cultural values and
traditional practices
of a population affect
the acceptance and
use of
pharmacology.
Explains how the
cultural values and
traditional practices of
a population affect the
acceptance and use of
pharmacology and
discusses how culture
and traditional
practices can impact
the efficacy of
prescribed
medications.
Identify evidence-
based, culturally
sensitive strategies
an organization can
use to educate a
population about the
appropriate use of
pharmacology.
Does not identify
evidence-based,
culturally sensitive
strategies an
organization can use
to educate a
population about the
appropriate use of
pharmacology.
Identifies cultura.
The Role of African Traditional Medical Practices in Adolescent Cognitive Ski...ijtsrd
This study set out to investigate the challenges faced by African Traditional Medical Practices and the impact on its sustainability and the development of adolescent cognitive skills through the transfer of knowledge in Oku Sub Division, North West Region of Cameroon. This study employed the ethnographic research design. This qualitative study was done through interviews and observation. The data collected was analysed through thematic analysis. Participants were sampled purposively and the snow ball technique was equally employed to get the traditional doctors, adolescents who are involved in African Traditional Medicine and their parents or guardians. Number of problems were identified as hindering the development of traditional medicine, ranging from secrecy, lack of documentation, no introduction in scholar curriculum, spiritual power not commonly shared or freely accessible, fake practitioners, lack of medicinal garden, inadequate recognition and regulation by the government, non integration in the conventional health system, scarcity of medicine due to the destruction of natural environment, challenge in conserving medicines, inadequacy of treatment facilities, inadequacy of finance or other boosting mechanisms, modernity leading to low consideration for traditional medicine, fear of the wild by adolescents, inadequate collaboration among practitioners, disturbs schooling and some aspects that are sex discriminative. The participants however identified number of assets that could boost the sector, notably early age involvement, social exposure as traditional medicine is practiced in the surroundings or home, the presence of role modelling at home or in the community, duration of training determined by confirmed professionalism, giftedness or predisposed talent which could be through revelation, gods ancestral calls or natural, smaller class sizes, intrinsic motivation and passion, extrinsic motivation alternative to schooling, employment, social status, sustaining parent’s legacy, social community development , willingness by professionals to transfer knowledge and ensuring continuity, existence of professional organizations, complementarity between modern and traditional medicine, collaboration among practitioners, proven efficiency of traditional medicine, both boys and girls can learn, affordability, formal training opportunities, population interest and usage, trust, confidence in traditional medicine and the tradition ethic like selflessness, not for profit or righteousness guiding the practice of traditional medicine. Number of recommendations were made to boost the sector and so far the survival, conservation of cultural and traditional values, and the contribution to socio economic development and youth cognitive development. Kengnjoh Michael Mbuwir "The Role of African Traditional Medical Practices in Adolescent Cognitive Skills Development in Oku Sub Division, North West Region of Cameroon: Challenges and Prospects" Published in
Running Head SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING 1 SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING .docxtodd521
Running Head: SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
1
SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
2
Sociology in nursing: A look from different perspectives
Name
Institution
Introduction
Health literacy is the acquisition and application of knowledge to daily practices for the improvement of the general health of an individual as well as the community. This influences the response to symptoms of illness, approach to treatment and preventive measures. While it may seem like common knowledge, the difference in the cultural and social background comes into play during the stated health literacy skills. Nurses are tasked with the provision of elementary care to culturally diverse communities and thus necessitating cultural competency.
Different concepts exist with regard to cultural composition and diversity in the community under evaluation. Singleton & Krause (2009) identify these to include: Magico-religious, biomedical and deterministic concepts. These concepts are always evolving with arising situations. Regular training on cultural competence is recommended as it is considered a threat to patients (Kaihlanen, Hietapakka & Heponiemi, 2019). This paper will look at nursing from different sociology perspectives to demonstrate the need for training.
Health literacy from sociological perspectives
Functionalist perspective
Health concepts are shared among a group of people sharing in other aspects of life as well. This is a source of continuity in identity recognized from doing things in a certain way. This is well demonstrated in Mayhew (2018), where an initial visit to a health facility, the nurse provides treatment options, which is met by indecisiveness, which turns around on the second visit following consultation with family members on the best course of action (Mayhew, 2018) for the ailing family member. The consultation gives the young mother confidence and a sense of unity in the family due to their collectivist approach. The institution of marriage is revered as well as nursing, as the mother takes time to understand all that pertains to the provided options.
Conflict perspective
Cultural diversity presents different approaches to decision making on health issues. Despite expert knowledge, a nurse must operate under ethical codes by respecting the patient's autonomy. This means that the decision reached, and failure thereof, must be upheld. For instance, a magico- religious culture may bar ailing members from procuring blood transfusions, even though their condition may only be helped by one. A nurse, while offering this option to them, can only do so much but respect this culture.
Conflict may also arise when actions taken in an emergency situation, maybe in opposition to patient beliefs, such as first aid to the opposite sex.
Symbolic interactionism perspective
This perspective demonstrates the difference in dialects and jargon used by different societies. Nursing uses professional language and jargon, which patients may not decipher. Equally, nurses are fac.
Running Head SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING 1 SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING .docxjeanettehully
Running Head: SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
1
SOCIOLOGY IN NURSING
2
Sociology in nursing: A look from different perspectives
Name
Institution
Introduction
Health literacy is the acquisition and application of knowledge to daily practices for the improvement of the general health of an individual as well as the community. This influences the response to symptoms of illness, approach to treatment and preventive measures. While it may seem like common knowledge, the difference in the cultural and social background comes into play during the stated health literacy skills. Nurses are tasked with the provision of elementary care to culturally diverse communities and thus necessitating cultural competency.
Different concepts exist with regard to cultural composition and diversity in the community under evaluation. Singleton & Krause (2009) identify these to include: Magico-religious, biomedical and deterministic concepts. These concepts are always evolving with arising situations. Regular training on cultural competence is recommended as it is considered a threat to patients (Kaihlanen, Hietapakka & Heponiemi, 2019). This paper will look at nursing from different sociology perspectives to demonstrate the need for training.
Health literacy from sociological perspectives
Functionalist perspective
Health concepts are shared among a group of people sharing in other aspects of life as well. This is a source of continuity in identity recognized from doing things in a certain way. This is well demonstrated in Mayhew (2018), where an initial visit to a health facility, the nurse provides treatment options, which is met by indecisiveness, which turns around on the second visit following consultation with family members on the best course of action (Mayhew, 2018) for the ailing family member. The consultation gives the young mother confidence and a sense of unity in the family due to their collectivist approach. The institution of marriage is revered as well as nursing, as the mother takes time to understand all that pertains to the provided options.
Conflict perspective
Cultural diversity presents different approaches to decision making on health issues. Despite expert knowledge, a nurse must operate under ethical codes by respecting the patient's autonomy. This means that the decision reached, and failure thereof, must be upheld. For instance, a magico- religious culture may bar ailing members from procuring blood transfusions, even though their condition may only be helped by one. A nurse, while offering this option to them, can only do so much but respect this culture.
Conflict may also arise when actions taken in an emergency situation, maybe in opposition to patient beliefs, such as first aid to the opposite sex.
Symbolic interactionism perspective
This perspective demonstrates the difference in dialects and jargon used by different societies. Nursing uses professional language and jargon, which patients may not decipher. Equally, nurses are fac ...
Similar to The prevalence, patterns of usage and people's attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among the Indian community in Chatsworth, South Africa (20)
Homeopahty, el proyecto de un Sistema de Salud, protagonistas, fundadores, ideólogos históricos, las iniciativas de Medicina Alternativa Complementaria CAM.
Homeopathy—quackery or a key to the future of medicine?home
When cholera first invaded Europe in 1831, the
mortality throughout Europe was generally between
40% and 60%. To the surprise of many, mortality
rates reported by homeopathic physicians was generally
below 10%, and commonly under 4%. Let me
present two typical cholera reports, which have a
stamp of officialdom. The first one comes from the
territory of Raab in Hungary where in 1831 a
Dr Joseph Bakody treated 223 patients with mild to
severe cholera, 14 of which were in a state of collapse .
He lost a total of 8 patients, a mortality of 3.6%. A
similar situation occurred in Cincinnati in 1849. The
Board of Health issued an order calling for physicians
to report all cases of cholera. Reports of a high
mortality rate were received by the Board from the city
hospital and allopathic physicians. However, six
homeopathic physicians attracted national attention
when they reported not a single death out of their first
350 cases of cholera. Two of these homeopathic
physicians, Dr Pulte and Ehrmann would eventually
report treating 2646 cases with 35 deaths, or a
mortality rate of 1.3%. Allopaths reported fatal
outcomes in about 50% of their cases.
Homeopathy in the treatment of fibromyalgia A comprehensive literature-review...home
Given the low number and included trials and the lowmethodological quality, any conclusion based on the resultsof this review have to be regarded as preliminary. However,as single case studies and clinical trials indicate a positiveeffect, homeopathy could be considered a complementarytreatment for patients with fibromyalgia
Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diar...home
The use of antibiotics in the livestock sector is increasing to such an extent
that it threatens negative consequences for human health, animal health and the environment.
Homeopathy might be an alternative to antibiotics. It has therefore been tested in
a randomised placebo-controlled trial to prevent Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal
piglets.
Multidrugresistant tuberculosis
Among the most menacing forms of MDR is multidrug
resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). WHO estimates that
were about 450,000 new cases and 170,000 deaths from
MDR-TB in 2012. The number of cases reported to
WHO rose by an alarming 35% between 2011 and 2012,
although this probably mostly reflects increased recognition
and reporting. Over half the new cases were in India,
China or the Russian Federation.3
This issue of Homeopathy features a paper by Dr Kusum
Chand and colleagues reporting a randomized, double blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial of individualized homeopathic
treatment or placebo in addition to standard antituberculous
chemotherapy as specified by the Indian Revised
National Tuberculosis Control Program, for MDR-TB
articleHealth professionals’ and families’ understanding of the role ofindivi...home
This paper draws on a mixed methods study that examined the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of individualisedhomeopathy plus usual care, compared to usual care alone, for children aged 7–14 with moderate to severe asthma recruited from secondary care.It draws on qualitative interviews with participants in the feasibility study that investigated families’ and professionals’ views and experiences ofasthma, homeopathy and study participation
Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy: HRI’s second international research conf...home
Rome, 3rde5th June 2015, was the setting for the Homeopathy Research Institute’s (HRI)
second conference with the theme ‘Cutting Edge Research in Homeopathy’. Attended by
over 250 delegates from 39 countries, this event provided an intense two and a half day
programme of presentations and a forum for the sharing of ideas and the creation of international
scientific collaborations. With 35 oral presentations from leaders in the field,
the scientific calibre of the programme was high and the content diverse. This report
summarises the key themes underpinning the cutting edge data presented by the
speakers, including six key-note presentations, covering advancements in both basic
and clinical research. Given the clear commitment of the global homeopathic community
to high quality research, the resounding success of both Barcelona 2013 and
Rome 2015 HRI conferences, and the dedicated support of colleagues, the HRI moves
confidently forward towards the next biennial conference
CORE-Hom: A powerful and exhaustive database of clinical trials in homeopathyhome
The CORE-Hom database was created to answer the need for a reliable and publicly available
source of information in the field of clinical research in homeopathy. As of May 2014
it held 1048 entries of clinical trials, observational studies and surveys in the field of homeopathy,
including second publications and re-analyses. 352 of the trials referenced in
the database were published in peer reviewed journals, 198 of which were randomised
controlled trials. The most often used remedies were Arnica montana (n = 103) and
Traumeel (n = 40). The most studied medical conditions were respiratory tract infections
(n = 126) and traumatic injuries (n = 110). The aim of this article is to introduce
the database to the public, describing and explaining the interface, features and content
of the CORE-Hom database.
Observations about controlled clinical trials expressed by Max Haidvogl
in the book Ultra High Dilution (1994) have been appraised from a perspective two
decades later. The present commentary briefly examines changes in homeopathy
research evidence since 1994 as regards: the published number of randomised controlled
trials (RCTs), the use of individualised homeopathic intervention, the ‘proven efficacy of
homeopathy’, and the quality of the evidence.
Clinical trial of homeopathy in rheumatoid arthritishome
The conclusion of the study that the effect was due to
‘consultation’ and not to the homeopathic remedy appears
to be biased for two reasons:
There was no substantial amelioration of the pathology
in any group to compare and on which to base conclusions.
The placebo effect in such deep pathology cases is superficial
and transient as the patient remains in essence with
the same frame of pathology.
Blisters and homeopathy: case reports and differential diagnosishome
Blisters are skin lesions characterized by accumulation of fluid between the layers of the
skin. Their severity varies from the common blisters caused by friction to severe autoimmune
and congenital bullous disorders, some of themcurrently without treatment in conventional
medicine or requiring drugs with potentially severe side-effects. This article
reports cases of blistering diseases successfully treated with homeopathic medicines,
which represent an alternative for the treatment of such disorders.
A short history of the development of homeopathy in Indiahome
Homeopathy was introduced in India the early 19th century. It flourished in Bengal at first,
and then spread all over India. In the beginning, the system was extensively practised by
amateurs in the civil and military services and others. Mahendra Lal Sircar was the first
Indian who became a homeopathic physician. A number of allopathic doctors started
homeopathic practice following Sircar’s lead. The ‘Calcutta Homeopathic Medical
College’, the first homeopathic medical college was established in 1881. This institution
took on a major role in popularising homeopathy in India.
In 1973, the Government of India recognised homeopathy as one of the national systems of
medicine and set up the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) to regulate its education
and practice. Now, only qualified registered homeopaths can practice homeopathy in
India. At present, in India, homeopathy is the third most popular method of medical treatment
after allopathy and Ayurveda. There are over 200,000 registered homeopathic doctors
currently, with approximately 12,000 more being added every year.
Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among children fr...home
A homeopathy user utilized on average homeopathic remedies worth EUR 15.28. The corresponding figure for herbal
drug users was EUR 16.02, and EUR 18.72 for overall medicinal CAM users.
CAM use among 15-year-old children in the GINIplus cohort is popular, but decreased noticeably compared
with children from the same cohort at the age of 10 years. This is possibly mainly because German health legislation
normally covers CAM for children younger than 12 years only.
Complementary medical health services: a cross sectional descriptive analysis...home
The clinic attracts people from a wide area in the metropolitan Toronto and surrounding region with
health concerns and diagnoses that are consistent with primary care, providing health education and addressing
acute and chronic health conditions. Further explorations into health services delivery from the broader
naturopathic or other complementary/alternative medical professions would provide greater context to these
findings and expand understanding of the patients and type of care being provided by these health professionals.
Prayer-for-health and complementary alternative medicine use among Malaysian ...home
CAM use was prevalent among breast cancer patients. Excluding PFH from the definition of CAM
reduced the prevalence of overall CAM use. Overall, CAM use was associated with higher education levels and
household incomes, advanced cancer and lower chemotherapy schedule compliance. Many patients perceived
MBP to be beneficial for improving overall well-being during chemotherapy. These findings, while preliminary,
clearly indicate the differences in CAM use when PFH is included in, and excluded from, the definition of CAM
Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-l...home
The study shows that Gelsemium s., a medicinal plant used in traditional remedies and
homeopathy, modulates a series of genes involved in neuronal function. A small, but statistically significant,
response was detected even to very low doses/high dilutions (up to 30c), indicating that the human neurocyte
genome is extremely sensitive to this regulation.
Calcarea carbonica induces apoptosis in cancer cells in p53-dependent manner ...home
These observations delineate the significance of immuno-modulatory circuit during calcarea carbonicamediated
tumor apoptosis. The molecular mechanism identified may serve as a platform for involving calcarea
carbonica into immunotherapeutic strategies for effective tumor regression
P05.39. Clinical experiences of homeopaths participating in a study of the ho...home
Homeopathic medications and dietary protocols were
found to be easily adapted for use in a clinical trial. These
observations provide insights for future research in the
area of homeopathic treatment (for ADHD in particular
and of homeopathy in general) and provide insights for
the potential integration of homeopathic practice into conventional
settings.
P04.71. Acupuncture, self-care homeopathy, and practitioner-based homeopathy:...home
The relationship between acupuncture use and depression
deserves further investigation. Given high levels of
concern about overuse of antibiotics in respiratory infections,
further research into the efficacy and cost-effectiveness
of homeopathy for these conditions is
warranted. Hopefully, future versions of NHIS-CAM
will provide more realistic estimates of expenditures.
Report Back from SGO 2024: What’s the Latest in Cervical Cancer?bkling
Are you curious about what’s new in cervical cancer research or unsure what the findings mean? Join Dr. Emily Ko, a gynecologic oncologist at Penn Medicine, to learn about the latest updates from the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Dr. Ko will discuss what the research presented at the conference means for you and answer your questions about the new developments.
Knee anatomy and clinical tests 2024.pdfvimalpl1234
This includes all relevant anatomy and clinical tests compiled from standard textbooks, Campbell,netter etc..It is comprehensive and best suited for orthopaedicians and orthopaedic residents.
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Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), or beverage alcohol, is a two-carbon alcohol
that is rapidly distributed in the body and brain. Ethanol alters many
neurochemical systems and has rewarding and addictive properties. It
is the oldest recreational drug and likely contributes to more morbidity,
mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined. The
5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) integrates alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into a single
disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD), with mild, moderate,
and severe subclassifications (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
In the DSM-5, all types of substance abuse and dependence have been
combined into a single substance use disorder (SUD) on a continuum
from mild to severe. A diagnosis of AUD requires that at least two of
the 11 DSM-5 behaviors be present within a 12-month period (mild
AUD: 2–3 criteria; moderate AUD: 4–5 criteria; severe AUD: 6–11 criteria).
The four main behavioral effects of AUD are impaired control over
drinking, negative social consequences, risky use, and altered physiological
effects (tolerance, withdrawal). This chapter presents an overview
of the prevalence and harmful consequences of AUD in the U.S.,
the systemic nature of the disease, neurocircuitry and stages of AUD,
comorbidities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, genetic risk factors, and
pharmacotherapies for AUD.
Ozempic: Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Saeid Safari
Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists like Ozempic and Semiglutide
ASA GUIDELINE
NYSORA Guideline
2 Case Reports of Gastric Ultrasound
New Drug Discovery and Development .....NEHA GUPTA
The "New Drug Discovery and Development" process involves the identification, design, testing, and manufacturing of novel pharmaceutical compounds with the aim of introducing new and improved treatments for various medical conditions. This comprehensive endeavor encompasses various stages, including target identification, preclinical studies, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and post-market surveillance. It involves multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists, researchers, clinicians, regulatory experts, and pharmaceutical companies to bring innovative therapies to market and address unmet medical needs.
Recomendações da OMS sobre cuidados maternos e neonatais para uma experiência pós-natal positiva.
Em consonância com os ODS – Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável e a Estratégia Global para a Saúde das Mulheres, Crianças e Adolescentes, e aplicando uma abordagem baseada nos direitos humanos, os esforços de cuidados pós-natais devem expandir-se para além da cobertura e da simples sobrevivência, de modo a incluir cuidados de qualidade.
Estas diretrizes visam melhorar a qualidade dos cuidados pós-natais essenciais e de rotina prestados às mulheres e aos recém-nascidos, com o objetivo final de melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar materno e neonatal.
Uma “experiência pós-natal positiva” é um resultado importante para todas as mulheres que dão à luz e para os seus recém-nascidos, estabelecendo as bases para a melhoria da saúde e do bem-estar a curto e longo prazo. Uma experiência pós-natal positiva é definida como aquela em que as mulheres, pessoas que gestam, os recém-nascidos, os casais, os pais, os cuidadores e as famílias recebem informação consistente, garantia e apoio de profissionais de saúde motivados; e onde um sistema de saúde flexível e com recursos reconheça as necessidades das mulheres e dos bebês e respeite o seu contexto cultural.
Estas diretrizes consolidadas apresentam algumas recomendações novas e já bem fundamentadas sobre cuidados pós-natais de rotina para mulheres e neonatos que recebem cuidados no pós-parto em unidades de saúde ou na comunidade, independentemente dos recursos disponíveis.
É fornecido um conjunto abrangente de recomendações para cuidados durante o período puerperal, com ênfase nos cuidados essenciais que todas as mulheres e recém-nascidos devem receber, e com a devida atenção à qualidade dos cuidados; isto é, a entrega e a experiência do cuidado recebido. Estas diretrizes atualizam e ampliam as recomendações da OMS de 2014 sobre cuidados pós-natais da mãe e do recém-nascido e complementam as atuais diretrizes da OMS sobre a gestão de complicações pós-natais.
O estabelecimento da amamentação e o manejo das principais intercorrências é contemplada.
Recomendamos muito.
Vamos discutir essas recomendações no nosso curso de pós-graduação em Aleitamento no Instituto Ciclos.
Esta publicação só está disponível em inglês até o momento.
Prof. Marcus Renato de Carvalho
www.agostodourado.com
Prix Galien International 2024 Forum ProgramLevi Shapiro
June 20, 2024, Prix Galien International and Jerusalem Ethics Forum in ROME. Detailed agenda including panels:
- ADVANCES IN CARDIOLOGY: A NEW PARADIGM IS COMING
- WOMEN’S HEALTH: FERTILITY PRESERVATION
- WHAT’S NEW IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS,
ONCOLOGICAL AND INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASES?
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ETHICS
- GENE THERAPY
- BEYOND BORDERS: GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOR DEMOCRATIZING LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
- ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE SCIENCES
- Prix Galien International Awards Ceremony
Title: Sense of Smell
Presenter: Dr. Faiza, Assistant Professor of Physiology
Qualifications:
MBBS (Best Graduate, AIMC Lahore)
FCPS Physiology
ICMT, CHPE, DHPE (STMU)
MPH (GC University, Faisalabad)
MBA (Virtual University of Pakistan)
Learning Objectives:
Describe the primary categories of smells and the concept of odor blindness.
Explain the structure and location of the olfactory membrane and mucosa, including the types and roles of cells involved in olfaction.
Describe the pathway and mechanisms of olfactory signal transmission from the olfactory receptors to the brain.
Illustrate the biochemical cascade triggered by odorant binding to olfactory receptors, including the role of G-proteins and second messengers in generating an action potential.
Identify different types of olfactory disorders such as anosmia, hyposmia, hyperosmia, and dysosmia, including their potential causes.
Key Topics:
Olfactory Genes:
3% of the human genome accounts for olfactory genes.
400 genes for odorant receptors.
Olfactory Membrane:
Located in the superior part of the nasal cavity.
Medially: Folds downward along the superior septum.
Laterally: Folds over the superior turbinate and upper surface of the middle turbinate.
Total surface area: 5-10 square centimeters.
Olfactory Mucosa:
Olfactory Cells: Bipolar nerve cells derived from the CNS (100 million), with 4-25 olfactory cilia per cell.
Sustentacular Cells: Produce mucus and maintain ionic and molecular environment.
Basal Cells: Replace worn-out olfactory cells with an average lifespan of 1-2 months.
Bowman’s Gland: Secretes mucus.
Stimulation of Olfactory Cells:
Odorant dissolves in mucus and attaches to receptors on olfactory cilia.
Involves a cascade effect through G-proteins and second messengers, leading to depolarization and action potential generation in the olfactory nerve.
Quality of a Good Odorant:
Small (3-20 Carbon atoms), volatile, water-soluble, and lipid-soluble.
Facilitated by odorant-binding proteins in mucus.
Membrane Potential and Action Potential:
Resting membrane potential: -55mV.
Action potential frequency in the olfactory nerve increases with odorant strength.
Adaptation Towards the Sense of Smell:
Rapid adaptation within the first second, with further slow adaptation.
Psychological adaptation greater than receptor adaptation, involving feedback inhibition from the central nervous system.
Primary Sensations of Smell:
Camphoraceous, Musky, Floral, Pepperminty, Ethereal, Pungent, Putrid.
Odor Detection Threshold:
Examples: Hydrogen sulfide (0.0005 ppm), Methyl-mercaptan (0.002 ppm).
Some toxic substances are odorless at lethal concentrations.
Characteristics of Smell:
Odor blindness for single substances due to lack of appropriate receptor protein.
Behavioral and emotional influences of smell.
Transmission of Olfactory Signals:
From olfactory cells to glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, involving lateral inhibition.
Primitive, less old, and new olfactory systems with different path
Lung Cancer: Artificial Intelligence, Synergetics, Complex System Analysis, S...Oleg Kshivets
RESULTS: Overall life span (LS) was 2252.1±1742.5 days and cumulative 5-year survival (5YS) reached 73.2%, 10 years – 64.8%, 20 years – 42.5%. 513 LCP lived more than 5 years (LS=3124.6±1525.6 days), 148 LCP – more than 10 years (LS=5054.4±1504.1 days).199 LCP died because of LC (LS=562.7±374.5 days). 5YS of LCP after bi/lobectomies was significantly superior in comparison with LCP after pneumonectomies (78.1% vs.63.7%, P=0.00001 by log-rank test). AT significantly improved 5YS (66.3% vs. 34.8%) (P=0.00000 by log-rank test) only for LCP with N1-2. Cox modeling displayed that 5YS of LCP significantly depended on: phase transition (PT) early-invasive LC in terms of synergetics, PT N0—N12, cell ratio factors (ratio between cancer cells- CC and blood cells subpopulations), G1-3, histology, glucose, AT, blood cell circuit, prothrombin index, heparin tolerance, recalcification time (P=0.000-0.038). Neural networks, genetic algorithm selection and bootstrap simulation revealed relationships between 5YS and PT early-invasive LC (rank=1), PT N0—N12 (rank=2), thrombocytes/CC (3), erythrocytes/CC (4), eosinophils/CC (5), healthy cells/CC (6), lymphocytes/CC (7), segmented neutrophils/CC (8), stick neutrophils/CC (9), monocytes/CC (10); leucocytes/CC (11). Correct prediction of 5YS was 100% by neural networks computing (area under ROC curve=1.0; error=0.0).
CONCLUSIONS: 5YS of LCP after radical procedures significantly depended on: 1) PT early-invasive cancer; 2) PT N0--N12; 3) cell ratio factors; 4) blood cell circuit; 5) biochemical factors; 6) hemostasis system; 7) AT; 8) LC characteristics; 9) LC cell dynamics; 10) surgery type: lobectomy/pneumonectomy; 11) anthropometric data. Optimal diagnosis and treatment strategies for LC are: 1) screening and early detection of LC; 2) availability of experienced thoracic surgeons because of complexity of radical procedures; 3) aggressive en block surgery and adequate lymph node dissection for completeness; 4) precise prediction; 5) adjuvant chemoimmunoradiotherapy for LCP with unfavorable prognosis.
micro teaching on communication m.sc nursing.pdfAnurag Sharma
Microteaching is a unique model of practice teaching. It is a viable instrument for the. desired change in the teaching behavior or the behavior potential which, in specified types of real. classroom situations, tends to facilitate the achievement of specified types of objectives.
Explore natural remedies for syphilis treatment in Singapore. Discover alternative therapies, herbal remedies, and lifestyle changes that may complement conventional treatments. Learn about holistic approaches to managing syphilis symptoms and supporting overall health.
Are There Any Natural Remedies To Treat Syphilis.pdf
The prevalence, patterns of usage and people's attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among the Indian community in Chatsworth, South Africa
2. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004, 4 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/3
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Background
There is documented evidence that the use of complemen-
tary and alternative medicine (CAM) among western soci-
ety is high [1-3], and that its use is increasing worldwide
[2,4-6]. A US survey in 1993 found that 34% of Americans
were using at least one type of alternative therapy [1]. A
follow-up survey in 1998 reported that 40% of Americans
used CAM for chronic conditions in the preceding year
[5]. They made a staggering 629 million visits to CAM
practitioners, far exceeding the 386 million visits made to
primary care physicians during the same year. In Euro-
pean countries for which statistics are available, comple-
mentary therapies are used by 20–50% of the population
[2]. An Australian survey in 1992/1993 found that 48.5%
of the population used at least one non-medically pre-
scribed alternative therapeutic modality [3]. Barnes et al
conducted a systematic literature search of the MEDLINE
database from 1966 through to 1996, to investigate the
growth of interest in CAM by the professional scientific
community [6]. They concluded that interest in and
awareness of complementary medicine among orthodox
health care professionals had increased during this period,
and that the number of studies on alternative medicine
published in scientific journals was increasing. Studies
suggesting that church going, religious beliefs, and prayer
can improve morbidity and mortality have received atten-
tion in medical journals and the general media [7].
Numerous articles, advertisements and supplements on
CAM are appearing in the local and regional South African
newspapers such as the Chatsworth Times, Rising Sun,
Sunday Tribune and Post, as well as local magazines such
as Durban's Metro Beat. These heighten public interest
and lend authority to therapies or medicines that were
previously labeled as merely having a "placebo effect".
Unconventional, alternative or unorthodox therapies are
difficult to define because they encompass a broad spec-
trum of practices and beliefs. The term "alternative medi-
cine" may suggest an opposition to allopathic medicine,
but the word "alternative" simply means "other". The
American National Institute of Health's Office of Alterna-
tive Medicine developed a more precise or scientific clas-
sification of CAM that differentiates seven categories listed
in table 1[8]. The influence of cultural beliefs on the use
of CAM is experienced in the Chinese and African tradi-
tions. In Chinese medicine the doctrine of "Five Ele-
ments" had a major influence on acupuncture and all
aspects of society [9]. Traditional African healing is
described as something "people have put their faith in for
years" [10].
In an essay aimed at improving understanding and com-
munication among physicians, patients and providers of
CAM, American researchers Kaptchuk and Eisenberg sug-
gest that the attraction of alternative therapies may be
related to the power of the underlying philosophies they
share, which involve nature, vitalism, "science" and spirit-
uality [11]. Kapchuk and Eisenberg describe the effect of
these principles: "Taken together, these principles expand
behavioral options, identity, experience and meaning
when illness threatens a person's intactness and sense of
connection to the world."
Further reasons why patients are attracted to CAM have
been suggested. Astin et al proposed that besides patients
finding many alternative therapies more congruent with
their philosophical orientation toward health, they also
preferred practitioners who took the time to listen, under-
stand and deal with their personal life as well as pathology
[12]. As conventional medicine in the USA becomes
increasingly expensive, depersonalised, and unable to
adequately meet the needs of patients with chronic condi-
tions, Husted et al found that many such patients were
seeking health promotion strategies to effectively manage
their symptoms [13]. CAM is common amongst people
with chronic ailments such as rheumatologic conditions
[14,15], breast cancer [16,17], asthma [18], inflammatory
bowel disease [19], headache [1,20], back problems and
chronic pain [1,21,22], as well as degenerative conditions
like multiple sclerosis [13].
Strong cultural beliefs, a high prevalence of chronic ill-
nesses like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary
artery disease, as well as an increasing number of adver-
tisements for CAM appearing in the local community
newspapers were indicators that the Indian community in
Chatsworth would use some form of CAM. The preva-
lence of such forms of healing within this community has
not been previously reported. Hence, this study ascertains
the prevalence of CAM usage and examines some of the
factors and reasons governing the choice of this kind of
healthcare within the Indian community, adding valuable
information about a little-researched group in South
Africa.
Methods
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the
Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of
Natal. The study population was the adult Indian popula-
tion of Chatsworth, a suburb of Durban. A sample size of
200 respondents was used since this would allow for a
50% prevalence estimate with a 95% confidence interval
ranging from 43–57%. The population sample was
obtained with the aid of the Ethekwini Municipality's
property valuation roll. A household number was
assigned to every physical address appearing in the valua-
tion roll. A random sample of 200 was drawn from the
household numbers. Each of these numbers was then
matched to its physical address, which constituted the
household that was selected for an interview. One volun-
3. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004, 4 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/3
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teer per household was requested to answer the question-
naire. A volunteer was accepted if he/she was 18 years and
older, understood English, and was an Indian resident of
Chatsworth. Residents of flats and informal settlements
were excluded for safety reasons. Households that refused
to volunteer for an interview were replaced by the next
house on the list.
For this interview-based study, we adapted questionnaires
developed by Eisenberg et al [1] and MacLennan et al [3]
and used these to conduct interviews from September
2001 to March 2002. The questionnaire was divided into
two sections: demographics and health information.
Demographic data included area of residency within the
suburb, age, sex, marital status, level of education, reli-
gion, annual income of the respondent, alcohol con-
sumption and cigarette smoking. In the health section,
respondents were asked to list up to three of their most
troublesome conditions and whether they had consulted
a medical practitioner or used any form of CAM for these
conditions during the previous 12 months. Respondents
could choose from the following list of CAM practices:
acupuncture, aromatherapy, African traditional healing,
Ayurvedic medicine, colon therapy, commercial weight
loss programmes, herbal/natural medicines and/or vita-
mins, chiropody, energy healing techniques, exercise and
special diet not prescribed by a medical practitioner,
homeopathy, hypnosis, massage therapy excluding physi-
otherapy, reflexology, spiritual healing and other (spec-
ify). Respondents were then asked to describe their
perceptions of the efficacy of such treatments and provide
an estimate of the costs incurred for CAM for the duration
of therapy for their most troublesome condition. They
were also asked to provide one or more reasons for choos-
ing CAM as a therapeutic modality. Furthermore, the
questionnaire ascertained whether they used CAM alone
or in conjunction with medicines prescribed by their med-
ical practitioner, and whether they had informed their
medical practitioner of the CAM they were using. Finally,
all respondents were asked which form of medical care
they would prefer, i.e. modern medicine, CAM, or both, as
well as reasons for making such choices.
The collected data was entered onto spreadsheets, using
the Microsoft Excel® software programme, then imported
to the Epi-info 2002 programme, where users and non-
users of CAM were compared. These groups were assessed
for differences in demographic variables using the chi-
squared test. The conventional 0.05 level of statistical sig-
nificance was used to determine whether there were differ-
ences between the groups, as reported in table 2.
Results
Demographics
Of 210 homes visited, 10 households declined consent
and two hundred patients were interviewed and com-
pleted face-to-face structured interviews. Additional file 1,
a table of subject characteristics, shows that there were
similar numbers of respondents from each of the sub-
areas or units of Chatsworth (no units 4 and 8 exist in
Chatsworth); equal sex distribution and a predominantly
married sample with the majority of people in the 26–60
age group. More than 60% were well educated and the
majority did not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. The
average annual income was the earning of the individual
being interviewed, and the almost 50% unemployed per-
sons included students, housewives and pensioners. Table
2 demonstrates that the study did not show a significant
association between CAM usage and age, religion, educa-
tion, gender, income, alcohol consumption, smoking sta-
tus and employment.
Prevalence
The prevalence of CAM usage among the Indian commu-
nity of Chatsworth for the period 2000/2001 was 38.5%
(95% CI = 31.7% to 45.6%). In this group of CAM users
the most troublesome conditions were diabetes mellitus
(22.1%), headaches (22.1%), arthritis or joint pains
(18.2%), stress (16.9%), skin disorders (16.9%), back-
ache (15.6%), hypertension (15.6%) and nasal disorders
Table 1: Categories of complementary and alternative medicine together with examples
Category Description / Examples
Mind-Body Interventions Biofeedback, relaxation techniques, meditation, hypnosis, imagery, yoga and t'ai chi.
Biomagnetic Therapies Exposure to strongly ionizing electromagnetic radiation and nonionising electromagnetic fields;
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Alternative Systems of Medical Practice Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and homeopathy
Manual Healing Methods Osteopathic and chiropractic manipulation; physical therapy and massage; therapeutic touch
Pharmacological and Biologic Treatments Chelation therapy and intravenous ozone therapy
Herbal Medicine Various botanical remedies
Diet and nutrition Special dietary strategies to address prevention or cure. e.g. vitamin E to reduce the risk of clots; a
diet based on brown rice and vegetables used to treat cancer and other chronic illnesses; the
Gerson diet, which consists of raw vegetables as well as vegetable and fruit juices
4. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004, 4 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/3
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(10.4%). A total of 80.5% of CAM users visited a medical
doctor in the previous 12 months. Thirty six CAM users
(46.8%) reported using CAM alone while thirty seven
(50.7%) used CAM together with allopathic medicines
prescribed. (Four CAM users did not answer this ques-
tion.) The two major types of CAM used were herbal/nat-
ural medicines including vitamins (48.1%) and spiritual
healing (42.9%) (Table 3). The percentage of CAM users
that used more than one type of CAM was 33.8%. When
asked to provide an estimate of the costs incurred in using
CAM during the previous 12 months 96.1% responded as
follows: 61.0% spent less than R200 (approximately
US$20), 19.5% spent between R200 and R500 (approxi-
mately US$20 and US$50), 9.6% spent between R500
and R1000 (approximately US$50 and US$100) and
9.1% spent more than R1000.
Communication with medical practitioners
Of the 52 individuals that used CAM, excluding spiritual
healing alone, 42.3% informed their doctors of CAM use.
Two patients did not respond to this question and the
remaining 53.8%. did not inform their doctors that they
were using CAM. Of the latter group, 89.3% responded
with the following reasons: 53.6% thought it was unnec-
essary to inform their doctors 7.1% felt their doctor might
become upset and 28.6% stated that their doctor did not
enquire.
Attitudes
Greater than half (51.9%) of the CAM users were either
advised by somebody to try the alternate product/treat-
ment modality or were influenced by advertisements in
the local newspapers, books or magazines. For 37.6% of
CAM users, modern medicine brought some improve-
ment in their conditions but failed to cure the underlying
problem. The concept that CAM was a natural and safe
form of medical care was quoted by 23.4% of respondents
whilst 15.6% chose CAM because modern medicine car-
ried a risk of unwanted side effects or they had actually
experienced such side effects. (Respondents could choose
more than one reason for CAM use.) Of the respondents
that used CAM, 14.3% expressed a preference for modern
(allopathic) medicine, 51.9% preferred CAM and 32.5%
would choose to use both modern medicine and CAM. Of
those that did not use CAM, 120 patients(97.6%) gave
their preferred method as follows: 17.9% would choose
CAM as a preferred method of healing, 11.4% would use
both allopathic medicine and CAM and 68.3% would
choose modern methods. The reasons for their choices are
reported in table 4. Beneficial effects were experienced by
Table 2: The influence of the various demographic factors upon CAM usage
Variable versus CAM use Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 P-value
Age <45 years >45 years 0.209
Religion Hinduism Christianity Islam 0.995
Sex Male Female 0.365
Education level <Grade 9 >Grade 9 0.195
Annual Income (Rands) <R40000 >R40000 0.666
Employment Yes No 0.198
Smoking status Yes No 0.399
Alcohol Consumption Yes No 0.515
Table 3: Utilisation pattern of CAM
Type of CAM Users (n)
Herbal/natural medicines and/or vitamins 37
Spiritual healing 33
Commercial weight loss programme 8
Exercise and special diets not prescribed by your doctor 7
Aromatherapy 6
Ayurvedic medicine 6
Massage therapy excluding physiotherapy 6
Acupuncture 3
Homeopathy 2
Reflexology 1
5. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004, 4 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/3
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79.2% of CAM users whilst 11.7% had no improvement
in their illnesses. 9.1% of users were not sure if there were
any beneficial effects at all.
Discussion
The percentage of people using CAM among the Indian
community of Chatsworth (38.5%) is comparable to that
reported elsewhere in the world: 40 % in the USA [5] and
48.5% in Australia [3]. This community used CAM for ill-
nesses that were generally chronic in nature. The Ameri-
can study [1] showed that one-third of the respondents
used CAM for "non-serious medical conditions, health
promotion or disease prevention". A study in Hong Kong
showed that traditional Chinese medicine was considered
suitable "as a supplement to Western medicine" [23].
Likewise, in the sample population for this study, half of
the CAM users used CAM and allopathic medicine
concurrently.
No demographic factor was found to be a significant pre-
dictor of CAM usage. These findings differ from the Amer-
ican and Australian studies, which both found several
associations between demographic factors and CAM
usage. Notably, college education and wealth were predic-
tors common to both the US and Australian studies. Vari-
ation in the subject characteristics between our study and
these previous studies may account for this difference. The
proportion of subjects with tertiary education in the
present study was 12% compared with 40% in both of the
previous studies and 50% of subjects fell within the poor-
est wealth category compared with 30% in the other
studies.
It was surprising to note that although CAM practitioners'
services and products are extensively advertised in Chats-
worth, 47 respondents had no prior knowledge or under-
standing of CAM. This was also the main reason given for
preferring to use allopathic medicine (Table 4). It may be
possible that such people, satisfied with allopathic medi-
cine, do not attempt to learn about other treatment
modalities. Although Ayurvedic medicine stems from
India, only 6 respondents utilized this form of CAM. The
reasons for this could form the basis of a future study. A
possible explanation is that since allopathic medicine is
the only form of medical care being taught at the local
medical universities, people have had no choice but to
accept this form of care. In Hong Kong, the Chinese com-
munity suffered a similar political fate under British rule
wherein Traditional Chinese medicine prior to 1997 was
not formally recognized by the then British government
[23].
The proportion of Christians using spiritual healing was
the same as those for the Hindus and Muslims. Strong cul-
tural factors probably contribute to the reasons for the
Indian community using prayer as a major healing form,
although they may be of different faiths. Some of the
herbal/natural medicines used included items such as
spirulina, multivitamins and a particular brand of herbal
products (Mother Nature®), all of which are currently
extensively advertised. It would therefore seem that adver-
tising plays a major role in the use of herbal/natural med-
icines in the Chatsworth community.
The symptom-based nature of Western/allopathic medi-
cine may be a drawback for patients who are interested in
finding an explanation for their symptoms. People, who
are unhappy with the root cause of the problem not being
found, may try CAM as an alternative. In this study, the
major reason given for CAM usage, cited by 38% of CAM
users, was that though modern medicine brought some
improvement in conditions it failed to cure the underly-
ing problem. Modern medicine has used the curative
approach to diseases, whereas traditional medicine has
focused on healing illnesses and applying the systems
approach. This approach considers the multitude of fac-
tors in the social and cultural environment of the patient
that play a decisive role in the development and appear-
ance of disease [24]. It is therefore a holistic perspective in
therapy, whereby healing remedies have been chosen for
their specific effects on a given condition, as well as for
their symbolic and ritualistic value for a certain individ-
ual, treated in the context of his/her social and cultural
environment.
Table 4: Most common reasons for respondents' preference for allopathic medicine, CAM or both modalities to improve their health.
Respondents could choose more than one alternative.
Allopathic Medicine Both modalities CAM
Reasons % Reasons % Reasons %
No prior knowledge or experience of
CAM
45 CAM is a natural form of treatment 61 CAM is a natural form of treatment 85
More evidence that allopathic medicine
works
36 More evidence that allopathic
medicine works
44 CAM safer than allopathic medicine 40
Allopathic medicine is more cost
effective than CAM
19 Allopathic medicine more cost
effective
39 Evidence that CAM works 21
6. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004, 4 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/3
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After spiritual healing had been excluded due to its lack of
possible unwanted interaction with concurrent allopathic
care, over half of the CAM users were still found not to
inform their (allopathic) medical practitioners that they
were using CAM. Findings in other studies have varied; in
the Eisenberg studies only 39% and 40% of respondents
using 'unconventional therapy' [5] and 39% of CAM users
in a Saskatchewan stroke population informed caregivers
about their use of CAM [25]. In a study of CAM users with
advanced-stage breast cancer in the USA, however, discus-
sion with doctors was high for use of ingested CAM prod-
ucts (modalities most likely to interact negatively with
conventional therapies) [26]. Our findings suggest
patient-doctor communication needs improvement.
Some respondents said that their doctors did not take a
CAM medical history. Doctors may take it for granted that
patients do not try CAM for their illnesses. Our recom-
mendation is that medical doctors increase their attempts
to ask their patients about their use of CAM. The inclusion
of an outline of alternative therapies, as well as anthropo-
logical and sociological studies, in the curricula of our
medical schools should be considered as a way to improve
caregivers' understanding of their patients' health belief
systems and usage of CAM.
Competing interests
None declared.
Authors' contributions
VS conceived of the study, participated in its design, co-
ordinated the fieldwork, administered questionnaires,
collated the data, participated in the data analysis and
wrote the first draft of the manuscript. DR participated in
the study design and data analysis and reviewed the man-
uscript. KH participated in the data analysis and interpre-
tation and reviewed and edited the manuscript. All
authors read and approved the final manuscript
Additional material
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Pre-publication history
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Additional File 1
Demographics of the 200 subjects interviewed. This is a table of subject
characteristics in Word format.
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