Naturopaths and Western herbalists’ attitudes to evidence, regulation, information sources and knowledge about popular complementary medicines

Braun, Lesley; Spitzer, Ondine; Tiralongo, Evelin; Wilkinson, Jenny M.; Bailey, Michael; Poole, Susan; Dooley, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2012.11.008

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Whilst reviewers (drawn from lecturing staff in colleges, who may have trained before degree training became standard) thought that learning materials should be limited to curriculum content, participants in this study believed that one of the role of teaching materials was to teach beyond the curriculum, and perhaps even extend it. This highlights potential conflicts and diverging views of clinical training amongst students and teachers of naturopathic medicine, which mirrors findings suggesting a growing generational divide between grassroots practitioners and those in leadership positions as clinical training becomes more academically rigorous . This study also highlights how naturopathic students often see textbooks as a way to address deficiencies in their curriculum, or to provide objective opinion (or subjective second opinion), to information provided by their lecturers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…An Australian survey identified that newsletters, textbooks, manufacturer seminars, patient feedback and clinical observations were the most commonly used information sources in naturopathic practice . A more recent survey suggests textbooks are the most commonly used and accepted information source by Australian naturopaths, with conferences and seminars, and CM journals also being identified as important and trusted information sources by more than half of respondents …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8 A more recent survey suggests textbooks are the most commonly used and accepted information source by Australian naturopaths, with conferences and seminars, and CM journals also being identified as important and trusted information sources by more than half of respondents. 9 A qualitative study of Australian naturopaths highlighted concerns over increasing commercial influence, as practitioners increasingly relied on manufacturers for clinical information (via newsletters, professional seminars and telephone information support services). Further, the lack of other, more objective, sources of information meant that such reliance was often seen as a necessary didactic element.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Student attitudes towards clinical teaching resources in complementary medicine: a focus group examination of Australian naturopathic medicine students

Wardle

Sarris

2014

Health Info Libraries J

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Background: Complementary medicine is forming an increasingly large part of health care in developed countries and is increasingly being formally taught in tertiary academic settings. Objectives: An exploratory study of naturopathic student perceptions of, use of and attitudes towards teaching resources in naturopathic clinical training and education. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with current and recent students of 4-year naturopathic degree programmes in Brisbane and Sydney to ascertain how they interact with clinical teaching materials, and their perceptions and attitudes towards teaching materials in naturopathic education. Results: Naturopathic students have a complex and critical relationship with their learning materials. Although naturopathic practice is often defined by traditional evidence, students want information that both supports and is critical of traditional naturopathic practices, and focuses heavily on evidence-based medicine. Students remain largely ambivalent about new teaching technologies and would prefer that these develop organically as an evolution from printed materials, rather than depart from dramatically and radically from these previously established materials. Conclusions: Findings from this study will assist publishers, librarians and academics develop clinical information sources that appropriately meet student expectations and support their learning requirements.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Student attitudes towards clinical teaching resources in complementary medicine: a focus group examination of Australian naturopathic medicine students

Wardle

Sarris

2014

Health Info Libraries J

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“…Currently, using of oriental medicine/CAM and popularity of them have been increasing worldwide among general population (Chen et al, 2007;Braun et al, 2013). Along with this, it has recently been widely spread the introduction of oriental medicine/CAM courses in an undergraduate medical education curriculum (Wetzel et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Dental Students’ Attitude Regarding Oriental Medicine/Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Comparison Between Two Japanese Dental Schools

Kameyama

Toda

2017

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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Background: The present study aimed to examine the impact of "curricula for undergraduate education in oriental medicine (OM)/complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)" on student awareness of OM. A questionnaire survey was conducted involving the Nagasaki University School of Dentistry (NUSD), a university that implements education in OM as part of its undergraduate curriculum, and Tokyo Dental College (TDC), which does not teach OM. Materials and methods:The third-and fifth-year students of both NUSD and TDC underwent the anonymous questionnaire survey, which included questions regarding their knowledge of OM and CAM, interests in these subjects, and their opinions on the necessity of teaching OM in the undergraduate dental education, and the results were collected for analysis. Results: Whereas 33% of 5 th year NUSD students had knowledge of OM/CAM was 33%, only 10% of 5 th year TDC students reported knowledge on the subject. 69% of 5 th year NUSD students interested in OM/CAM, while 5 th year TDC students who interest them were only 45%. Although 77% of 5 th year NUSD students were in favor of OM education implemented in the Faculty of Dentistry, the percentages of TDC students of that were smaller (46% in 3

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“…Complications associated with “non‐medically qualified healers, lack of product standards, undeclared ingredients, non‐disclosure of usage and long‐term medication” have been identified 2 . A survey of naturopaths and Western herbalists in Australia has, however, revealed support for formal registration and for evidence‐based practice 3 . A report published in 2016 detailed the potentially serious side effects of herbal dietary supplements, such as sub‐massive hepatic necrosis necessitating organ transplantation caused by ingestion of a weight loss supplement containing garcinia cambogia ( Garcinia gummi‐gata ) 4 …”

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confidence: 99%

What risks do herbal products pose to the Australian community?

Byard

Musgrave

Bunce³

2017

Medical Journal of Australia

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Traditional herbal products are widely used in Australia to treat a broad range of conditions and diseases. It is popularly believed that these products are safer than prescribed drugs. While many may be safe, it is worrying that the specific effects and harmful interactions of a number of their components with prescription medications is not well understood. Some traditional herbal preparations contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as naturally occurring organic toxins. The effects of these substances can be dire, including acute hepatic and renal failure, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions and diseases, and even death. The content and quality of herbal preparations are not tightly controlled, with some ingredients either not listed or their concentrations recorded inaccurately on websites or labels. Herbal products may also include illegal ingredients, such as ephedra, Asarum europaeum (European wild ginger) and endangered animal species (eg, snow leopard). An additional problem is augmentation with prescription medications to enhance the apparent effectiveness of a preparation. Toxic substances may also be deliberately or inadvertently added: less expensive, more harmful plants may be substituted for more expensive ingredients, and processing may not be adequate. The lack of regulation and monitoring of traditional herbal preparations in Australia and other Western countries means that their contribution to illness and death is unknown. We need to raise awareness of these problems with health care practitioners and with the general public.

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Naturopaths and Western herbalists’ attitudes to evidence, regulation, information sources and knowledge about popular complementary medicines

Cited by 27 publications

References 23 publications

Student attitudes towards clinical teaching resources in complementary medicine: a focus group examination of Australian naturopathic medicine students

Student attitudes towards clinical teaching resources in complementary medicine: a focus group examination of Australian naturopathic medicine students

Survey of Dental Students’ Attitude Regarding Oriental Medicine/Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Comparison Between Two Japanese Dental Schools

What risks do herbal products pose to the Australian community?

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