The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2012
ReviewEpidemiology, quality, and reporting characteristics of systematic reviews of acupuncture interventions published in Chinese journals.
Systematic reviews (SRs) of acupuncture have become increasingly popular in China in recent years and have been published in large numbers. This review provides the first examination of epidemiological characteristics of these SRs as well as compliance with the PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines. ⋯ Although many SRs of acupuncture interventions have been published in Chinese journals, the reporting quality is troubling. Thus, the most urgent strategy is to focus on increasing the standard of SRs of acupuncture interventions, rather than continuing to publish them in great quantity.
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J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2012
Multicenter StudyThe ADDOPT study (Acupuncture to Decrease Disparities in Outcomes of Pain Treatment): feasibility of offering acupuncture in the community health center setting.
This article describes the feasibility and acceptability of the Acupuncture to Decrease Disparities in Outcomes of Pain Treatment (ADDOPT) trial, which incorporates acupuncture as an adjunct to usual treatment for chronic pain in urban health centers. ⋯ Clinicians in this urban setting have incorporated acupuncture into chronic pain management. Despite disability and lack of familiarity, patients initiate acupuncture and show high levels of engagement with treatment.
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J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2012
Clinical TrialThe benefits of yoga for women veterans with chronic low back pain.
Chronic low back (CLBP) pain is prevalent among military veterans and often leads to functional limitations, psychologic symptoms, lower quality of life, and higher health care costs. An increasing proportion of U.S. veterans are women, and women veterans may have different health care needs than men veterans. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a yoga intervention on women and men with CLBP. SUBJECTS/SETTING/INTERVENTION: VA patients with CLBP were referred by primary care providers to a clinical yoga program. ⋯ These results suggest that women veterans may benefit more than men veterans from yoga interventions for chronic back pain. Conclusions are tentative because of the small sample size and quasi-experimental study design. A more rigorous study is being designed to answer these research questions more definitively.
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J Altern Complement Med · Sep 2012
Complementary and alternative medicine in the undergraduate medical curriculum: a survey of Korean medical schools.
The current status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education in Korean medical schools is still largely unknown, despite a growing need for a CAM component in medical education. The prevalence, scope, and diversity of CAM courses in Korean medical school education were evaluated. ⋯ This survey reveals heterogeneity in the content, format, and requirements among CAM courses at Korean medical schools. Korean medical school students should be instructed in CAM with a more consistent educational approach to help patients who participate in or demand CAM.
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J Altern Complement Med · Aug 2012
ReviewOral Chinese herbal medicine for improvement of quality of life in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review.
This study evaluates published clinical trials of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that employ a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcome measure. ⋯ While the results of CHM on HRQoL for stable COPD sufferers were promising, they need to be interpreted with caution due to methodological problems, which should be addressed in future trials.