Clinical Research in Complementary Therapies: Principles, Problems and Solutions - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0443069565 ISBN 13: 9780443069567

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone, 2011

Synopsis

The use of complementary therapies is exploding, increasing the pressure to establish a rigorous science to support its practice. Clinical Research in Complementary Therapies: Principles, Problems and Solutions provides students with the tools they need to research complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) and so fill this gap. Essential for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, this second edition is significantly updated and enhanced.

Part 1 deals with research strategies and methods, explaining the major types of clinical research in CIM and how these inter-relate. New chapters are included on whole systems research, qualitative research and questionnaire development. Not all therapies can be treated the same way nor channeled through the signal process of randomized controlled trials. Therefore, detailed description of mixed methods approaches including observational, qualitative, cost-benefit and comparative effectiveness research are described. Part 2 deals with specific complementary therapies and how they are invested by experts in each field.

The book analyses the key questions asked and the controversies debated in complementary medicine research and offers clear and innovative guidance for answering these questions.

FEATURES

· Provides an overarching synthesis of methods in CIM and how they are to be used collectively including the role of comparative effectiveness research · Suggests both general and specific factors which need to be considered in assessing or planning complementary therapy research · Pinpoints aspects of research which are different in orthodox research and complementary therapy research · Reviews the types of research carried out in specific complementary therapies and analyses issues which arise · Includes information on measuring the economic cost and benefits of complementary medicine, clinical audit and the role of placebos use · Builds upon recent research results, looks at the lessons these provide for all complementary therapies and suggests key issues to address in future research.

About this title

About the Author:

Professor George Lewith is a qualified physician who has practiced and researched within Complementary and Altemative Medicine (CIM) for 30 years. He leads the intemationally respected CIM and Integrated Medicine research group at the University of Southampton, UK. Dr Wayne B Jonas is President and CEO of the Samueli Institute, as well as Professor of Family Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine He was formerly Director of the Office of Altemative Medicine at the US National Institutes of Health Professor Harald Walach has been a researcher within CIM for over 20 years and is Editor-in-Chief of Research in Complementary Medicine journal. He is Director of the Institute of Transcultural Health Studies at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt Germany.

Review:

"A Well edited book on Complementary Therapies (CT)... (that) provide(s) you with a clear picture as to the weakness and the strengths in conducting research in CT. This book will appeal to both researchers and practitioners with interests in CT ." Ami Sevi, www.medix uk.com, July 2002
is an ideal book for those wishing to research complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and would be a good reference textbook for colleges introducing research into the syllabus as well as for other medical students looking at CAM ."Integrated Health, April 2002

About this edition

• Publisher: Churchill Livingstone
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0443069565
• ISBN 13: 9780443069567
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 426
• Editor: George Thomas Lewith, Wayne B. Jonas, Harald Walach