Session 11 Flashcards
Define Complimentary therapy
Any medical system based on a theory of
disease or method of treatment other than the orthodox
science of medicine as taught in medical schools
Why are Complimentary therapies no longer called Alternative therapies?
Because they are designed to be used alongside traditional medicine not instead of it
Give some examples of Complimentary therapies?
Acupuncture Aromatherapy Art therapy Hypnotherapy Chiropracters
Why do people use Complimentary therapies?
Persistent symptoms
Adverse effects of traditional treatment (Real or Imagined)
Feel there is a more holistic approach
May feel they have more attention given to them (But for a price)
What are patient’s perspectives on Complimentary therapies?
High satisfaction reported
Concerns over safety
Issues with cost
The inequality of only some being able to afford it
What are doctor’s perspectives on Complimentary therapies?
Believe some forms may be of benefit Unregulated & Unqualified practitioners May risk delaying diagnosis May refuse traditional treatment May waste money on ineffective treatment Some mechanisms are implausible
What Complimentary therapies does NICE recommend?
The Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s disease
Ginger for reducing morning sickness
Acupuncture for morning sickness or lower back pain
Manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage for persistent low back pain
What is Aromatherapy?
Controlled use of essential oils with therapeutic properties
Believed to relieve stress, improve health and promote a
sense of wellbeing
What is Acupuncture?
Stimulation of special points on the body, usually by the insertion of fine needles.
Believe workings of the human body are controlled by a vital force/energy called “Qi”
Acupuncture points provide a way of altering the flow of Qi
What evidence supports Acupuncture?
The points correspond to physiological and anatomical features such as peripheral nerve junctions
What are the challenges research into Complimentary therapies face?
Resources (Pharmaceuticals, who usually fund, won’t want to)
Prevention paradox
Placebos can be hard to find
Hard to make double blind causing bias
What are NICE’s arguments for Complimentary therapies?
High public interest
Half GPs provide access
Should apply same standards to all treatments
Stimulates more/higher quality research
What are NICE’s arguments against Complimentary therapies?
Money in NHS limited
There are higher priorities
The evidence is of poor quality
How can Complimentary therapies clash with Evidence Based Practice?
Can be hard to assess effectiveness in a consistent way
Can Evidence Based Practice be applied to Complimentary therapies
Is Evidence Based Practice always the right way to judge?
Healing potential cannot be grasped by Western societies
Biomedical ‘rules’ dominate the world of Medicine
How are Complimentary therapies relevant to clinicians?
May be asked to provide access to them
Need to understand and respect the different beliefs
Unlikely to be a single universal answer
GMC’s Tomorrow’s Doctors states we need to be aware of therapies available and why some patients may use them
