The Interface Between Tradition and Science: Naturopaths' Perspectives of Modern Practice

Steel, Amie; Adams, Jon

doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0497

Cited by 28 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…These findings seems consistent with previous studies of naturopathic perspectives of science and evidence, which demonstrate naturopaths exhibit a complex and critical approach to evaluating and incorporating scientific and evidence-based perspectives in practice [21,46]. This perceived separation or distinction between EBM and biomedical science appears somewhat divorced from current perceptions portrayed in the conventional medical literature that reluctance to adopt an EBM model on the part of CAM practitioners is entirely supportive of the ‘anti-science’ and ‘risky’ element of this medicine [47].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Current challenges and future directions for naturopathic medicine in Australia: a qualitative examination of perceptions and experiences from grassroots practice

Wardle

Adams

Lui

et al. 2013

BMC Complement Altern Med

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BackgroundNaturopaths are an increasingly significant part of the healthcare sector in Australia, yet despite their significant role there has been little research on this practitioner group. Currently the naturopathic profession in Australia is undergoing a period of rapid professional growth and change. However, to date most research exploring the perceptions of naturopaths has been descriptive in nature and has focused on those in leadership positions rather than grassroots practitioners. This article explores the perceptions and experiences of practising naturopaths on the challenges and future directions of their profession.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 naturopaths practising in the Darling Downs region of South-east Queensland, Australia to explore current perceived challenges in the naturopathic profession in Australia.ResultsParticipants perceived a number of internal and external challenges relating to the profession of naturopathic medicine. These included a public misconception of the role of naturopathic medicine; the co-option of naturopathic medicine by untrained or unqualified practitioners; the devaluation of naturopathic philosophy as a core component of naturopathic practice; a pressure to move towards an evidence-based medicine model focused on product prescription; the increasing commercial interest infiltrating complementary medicine, and; division and fragmentation within the naturopathic profession. Naturopaths generally perceived government regulation as a solution for many of these challenges, though this may be representative of deeper frustrations and disconnections between the views of grassroots naturopaths and those in professional leadership positions.ConclusionsGrassroots naturopaths identify a number of challenges that may have significant impacts on the quality, effectiveness and safety of naturopathic care. Given the significant role naturopaths play in healthcare in Australia the practice and policy implications of these challenges require further research attention.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Current challenges and future directions for naturopathic medicine in Australia: a qualitative examination of perceptions and experiences from grassroots practice

Wardle

Adams

Lui

et al. 2013

BMC Complement Altern Med

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Participants in this study also highlighted an emerging division between scientific and traditional sources of information, both of which were seen as being important but which were also seen as being ideally separated in teaching materials. This mirrors previous exploration of naturopaths, which found that traditional knowledge was still seen as an important information source in clinical practice, even as scientific information became increasingly influential …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…There does appear to be significant heterogeneity amongst practitioners in the levels of support for further inclusion of evidence‐based principles into naturopathic practice, with research suggesting that even amongst those who support further integration, there is concern that this should not be at the expense of degradation of the philosophical underpinnings of naturopathic practice . Research also reveals significant tensions between traditional knowledge and scientific information remain in the naturopathic practice community …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…In interviews with acupuncturists in the UK, Jackson and Scambler (2007) found they expressed deep resistance to EBM notions of evidence, instead viewing evidence as lying in acupuncture’s long history, their own experiences and patient feedback, and the internal logic and systematic basis of Chinese medicine’s philosophy. Similarly, Steel and Adams’ (2011a, 2011b) study of naturopathic clinical reasoning showed that naturopaths strongly valued intuition and clinical experience when making treatment decisions, combining these with insights from research where available, but generally having greater faith in the role of so-called ‘traditional knowledge’ than scientific research.…”

Section: Evidence and Epistemology In Cammentioning

confidence: 98%

Epistemic cultures in complementary medicine: knowledge-making in university departments of osteopathy and Chinese medicine

Brosnan

2016

Health Sociology Review

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There is increasing pressure on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to follow the evidence-based approach promoted in allied health and medicine, in which the randomised control trial represents the evidence gold standard. However, many CAM advocates see these methods as undermining the holism of CAM practice. This paper explores how such tensions are managed in CAM university departments – settings in which particular forms of knowledge and evidence are given ‘official’ imprimatur by CAM educators and researchers. By comparing two types of CAM, the paper also unpacks differences within this broad category, asking whether CAM academic disciplines comprise different ‘epistemic cultures’ (Knorr-Cetina, K. (1999). Epistemic cultures: How the sciences make knowledge. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press). Interviews were conducted with 20 lecturers in Chinese medicine and osteopathy, across five Australian universities, and augmented with observation in two degree programs. Findings reveal contrasting ontological and epistemological perspectives between the two academic fields. Chinese medicine lecturers had largely adopted bioscientific models of research, typically conducting laboratory work and trials, although teaching included traditional theories. Osteopathy academics were more critical of dominant approaches and were focused on reframing notions of evidence to account for experiences, with some advocating qualitative research. The study illustrates CAM’s ‘epistemic disunity’ while also highlighting the particular challenges facing academic CAM.

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The Interface Between Tradition and Science: Naturopaths' Perspectives of Modern Practice

Cited by 28 publications

References 17 publications

Current challenges and future directions for naturopathic medicine in Australia: a qualitative examination of perceptions and experiences from grassroots practice

Current challenges and future directions for naturopathic medicine in Australia: a qualitative examination of perceptions and experiences from grassroots practice

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

Epistemic cultures in complementary medicine: knowledge-making in university departments of osteopathy and Chinese medicine

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