Public Health and Health Services Research in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Health Care: International Perspectives

The use and practice of traditional, complementary and/or integrative medicine (TCIM) raises significant questions, poses many challenges and holds much potential for the broad fields of public health and health services research.

This book brings together leading international researchers with backgrounds and expertise across broad multi-disciplinary sub-fields including health social science, biostatistics, clinical pharmacology, implementation science, health geography and health economics. Contributors draw upon their research and experience to explain and review core research and practice issues on TCIM and its future development.

The book offers a rounded understanding of the current and future possibilities associated with the TCIM-public health and health services research interface and provides an essential overview of the broad evidence-base emerging in this area of research, policy and practice. Individual chapters employ specific case studies, featuring particular medicines/therapies, and focusing upon a number of health care settings and environments including general practice, community pharmacy, hospital specialisms as well as community-based private practice and self-care.