Skip to main content

Evaluation of Integrative Therapies for Research and Practice

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Integrative Therapies in Lung Health and Sleep

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of evaluating integrative therapies from both a scientific, empirical standpoint, as well as from a practical clinical perspective. The challenges of evaluating integrative therapies are outlined, including prevailing research paradigms and the nature of integrative therapies themselves and the conditions they are often used to ameliorate. Major steps to achieving evidence-based integrative therapy practice are highlighted: (1) formulating an answerable question, (2) conducting an efficient literature search, (3) critically appraising the evidence, (4) applying results in healthcare decisions, and (5) evaluating outcomes. Within these steps, considerations for appraising explanatory, pragmatic, and qualitative trials are discussed. Similarly, readers are enlightened on patient, practitioner, and institutional factors to consider in the application of integrative therapies to practice in order to achieve good clinical care for patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. What is complementary and alternative medicine. 2010. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/. Accessed October 16, 2010.

  2. Lindquist R, Snyder M, Song Y. Perspectives on future research and practice. In: Snyder M, Lindquist R, editors. Complementary/alternative therapies nursing. 6th ed. New York: Springer; 2010. p. 485–98.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hoffer J. Complementary or alternative medicine: the need for plausibility. JAMC. 2003;168(2):180–2.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Institute of Medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. Washington: National Academy Press; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Nahin R, Berman J, Stoney C, et al. Approaches to clinical trials of complementary and alternative medicine. In: Vogel J, Krucoff M, editors. Integrative cardiology: complementary and alternative medicine for the heart. New York: McGraw Hill; 2005. p. 63–86.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Carter B. Methodological issues and complementary therapies: researching intangibles? Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 2003;9:133–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Verhoef M, Casebeer, Hilsden R. Assessing efficacy of complementary medicine: Adding qualitative research methods to the ‘gold standard’. Alternative Compl Med. 2002;8(3):275–81.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Guba E, Lincoln Y. Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In: Denzin D, Lincoln Y, editors. The landscape of qualitative research: theories and issues. London: Sage; 1998. p. 195–220.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Haynes R. Of studies, syntheses, synopses, summaries, and systems: the “5S” evolution of information services for evidence-based healthcare decisions. Evid Based Nurs. 2007;10:6–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Evan D. Hierarchy of evidence: a framework for ranking evidence evaluating healthcare interventions. J Clin Nurs. 2003;12:77–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Critical appraisal checklist. 2010. www.delfini.org. Accessed November 19, 2010.

  12. Walker L, Anderson J. Testing complementary and alternative therapies within a research protocol. Eur J Cancer. 1999;35(11):1614–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zwarenstein M, Treweek S, Gagnier J, et al. for CONSORT and Practihc groups. Improving the reporting of pragmatic trials: an extension of the CONSORT statement. BMJ. 2008;337:1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  14. MacPherson H. Pragmatic clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2004;12:136–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Schumacher K, Koresawa S, West C, et al. Qualitative research contribution to a randomized clinical trial. Res Nurs Health. 2005;28:268–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Evidence-based practice checklists. 2010. www.gla.ac.uk/departments/generalpracticeprimarycare/ebp/checklists/#d.en.19536. Accessed November 19, 2010.

  17. Schulz K, Altman D, Moher D; for CONSORT group. CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(11):1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Piaggio G, Elbourne D, Altman D, et al.; for CONSORT group. Reporting of noninferiority and equivalence randomized trials: An extension of the CONSORT statement. JAMA. 2006;295(10):1152–60.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Institute of Medicine. Gulf war veterans: treating symptoms and syndromes. Washington: National Academy Press; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Paterson C, Britten N. Acupuncture for people with chronic illness: combining qualitative and quantitative outcome assessment. J Altern Complement Med. 2003;9(5):671–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Vuckovic N. Integrating qualitative methods in randomized controlled trials: the experience of the Oregon center for complementary and alternative medicine. J Altern Complement Med. 2002;8(3):225–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bailey P. Assuring quality in narrative analysis. West J Nurs Res. 1995;18(2):186–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Burns N. Standards for qualitative research. Nurs Sci Q. 1989;2(1):44–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Koch T, Harrington A. Reconceptualizing rigour: the case for reflexivity. J Adv Nurs. 1998;28(4):882–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sandelowski M. Rigor or rigor mortis: the problem of rigor in qualitative research revisited. Adv Nurs Sci. 1993;16(2):1–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. U.S. Preventive Service Task Force Hierarchy of Research Design and Quality Rating Criteria. 2010. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed November 5, 2010.

  27. Cutshall S, Derscheid D, Miers A, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and use of complementary and alternative therapies among clinical nurse specialists in an academic medical center. Clin Nurse Spec. 2010;24(3):125–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Polich G, Dole C, Kaptchuk T. The need to act a little more “scientific”: biomedical researchers investigating complementary and alternative medicine. Sociol Health Illn. 2010;32(1):106–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Tracy M, Lindquist R, Savik K, et al. Use of complementary and alternative therapies: a national survey of critical care nurses. Am J Crit Care. 2005;14(5):404–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Eisenberg D, Davis R, Ettner S, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1569–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Verhoef M, Mulkins A, Boon H. Integrative health care: how can we determine whether patients benefit? J Altern Complement Med. 2005;11(Supp 1):S57–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sackett D, Rosenberg W, Gray J, et al. Evidence-based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. BMJ. 1996;312:71–2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Mason S, Tovey P, Long A. Evaluating complementary medicine: methodological challenges of randomized controlled trials. Br Med J. 2002;325:832–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Long A, Mercer G, Hughes K. Developing a tool to measure holistic practice: a missing dimension in outcomes measurement within complementary therapies. Complement Ther Med. 2000;8:26–31.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Brown C. Methodological problems of clinical research into spiritual healing: the healer’s perspective. J Altern Complement Med. 2000;6(2):275–81.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margo A. Halm RN, PhD, ACNS-BC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halm, M.A., Katseres, J.K. (2012). Evaluation of Integrative Therapies for Research and Practice. In: Chlan, L., Hertz, M. (eds) Integrative Therapies in Lung Health and Sleep. Respiratory Medicine, vol 4. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-579-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-579-4_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-578-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-579-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics