Alternative therapies in health and medicine
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Altern Ther Health Med · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of back massage before diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
Admission to the hospital for a diagnostic cardiac catheterization can be perceived as a threat to one's health status. Autonomic nervous system arousal, particularly the sympathetic division, can elicit negative physiological and psychological human responses as a reaction to this threat. ⋯ A 20-minute back massage appeared to reduce systolic blood pressure in patients awaiting a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, while preparatory time in the cardiac catheterization laboratory appeared to reduce diastolic blood pressure, respiration, perceived psychological distress, and pain.
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A growing number of complementary and alternative therapies are eligible for reimbursement by third party payers in the United States. No studies have examined current trends in the use of public funds for the payment of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). ⋯ Many Medicaid programs are paying for the use of CAM. Further research is needed to determine if Medicaid recipients are aware of these reimbursement policies and the extent to which recipients are using CAM for their healthcare.
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Altern Ther Health Med · Nov 2002
Attitudes toward CAM among medical, nursing, and pharmacy faculty and students: a comparative analysis.
As interest in CAM continues to increase, schools of medicine, nursing, and other health professional training programs are being encouraged to integrate content on CAM into curricula. ⋯ Faculty and students within medicine, nursing, and pharmacy have favorable attitudes toward the integration of CAM within education and clinical care. Personal use of CAM and training is limited. Lack of evidence is perceived to be the most significant barrier to integration of CAM into Western medicine. The high degree of receptivity suggests the need for both faculty training and curriculum development.