Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine最新文献

Background: Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) encompasses over 400 modalities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2011, 70% of the European Union's population reported having used CIM at least once, with 25% using it annually. This study examines the engagement, motivations, and satisfaction of users in the French health care system through data from Medoucine, France's largest online platform for complementary therapies. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted using Medoucine's database from 2017 to 2023, adhering to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Data were sourced from practitioner profiles, appointment logs, and patient comments collected at baseline (day 0, J0) and follow-up (day 30, J30). Survey questions, including "What type of complementary therapy are you seeking?" provided clarity on how CIM therapies were introduced. The study included a "recommendation question" at baseline to evaluate satisfaction: "Would you recommend this practitioner to your friends and family?". Response rates varied between 10% and 67%, depending on the question. Categorical variables were analyzed as percentages. Results: Among 225,251 platform users, 67.7% (152,464) responded to the recommendation question at J0, 15% (33,823) reported health improvements at J30, and 10% (22,596) discovered sustainable health strategies. Most users were women (68.6%). Key motivations included well-being and personal development (17.4%), stress, anxiety, and phobias (17.1%), and sleep disorders (7%). Hypnosis (15%), traditional Chinese medicine (8.4%), and reflexology (6.7%) were the most commonly selected modalities. At J30, 74.8% reported health improvements, with notable benefits for well-being (80.7%) and stress (76.3%). Conclusion: This study underscores the growing demand for CIM therapies in France, driven by a need for stress relief, personal development, and physical and psychological health management. High satisfaction rates and perceived health benefits highlight the potential of CIM to complement conventional care. Integrating evidence-based CIM into mainstream health care systems, as recommended by the WHO, offers an opportunity to address patient needs and enhance health care delivery.

Objective: Naturopathic practitioners consult an estimated 6.2% of Australian adults, equating to 1,550,000 people receiving their care each year. Sleep is now recognized as a key pillar of health; however, nearly half of all Australian adults report inadequate sleep. Evidence suggests that many Australians consult naturopaths (NPs) for sleep-related problems and use complementary medicines (CMs) to manage these. However, NPs' clinical approach to caring for people living with sleep disorders has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe and understand the clinical assessment and treatment approaches used by NPs in their care of people living with sleep disorders. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey with a purposively sought sample. NPs were recruited via the practitioner research-based network. The participants received an email invitation containing a link to the survey along with a Participant Information Sheet. The online survey (Research Electronic Data Capture-see Supplementary Data S1) comprised multiple-choice, binary (yes/no) questions, or 5-point Likert scale-type questions structured across four sections related to: clinical assessment of patients, treatments used, interprofessional communication with conventional doctors, and demographics. Results: Sixty-seven complete data sets were analyzed. Most survey participants treated-one to three patients with sleep disorders weekly, being consulted primarily for insomnia (82%) and its treatment (98.5%). Comprehensive sleep health histories were commonly assessed. Additionally, 69% of participants reported that patients sought their services to complement conventional care. The most frequently used complementary medicine (CM) approaches included sleep hygiene counseling (75%) and meditation (64.7%). Vitamins, minerals, herbal medicines, and nutritional supplements were the most recommended CM medicines (92.6%). Referrals to conventional medicine professionals were minimal. Conclusion: Australian NPs are frequently consulted by people living with sleep disorders who are also using conventional medicines. Our study highlights the need for integrated models of health care tailored to patient needs that maximize potential benefits and reduce any harms associated with drug-CMs interactions. The provision of training to the Australian health care workforce of NPs that focuses on evidence-based behavioral treatments can improve access to these treatments for patients.

Background: Current treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) pain and stiffness have limitations, including adverse effects. Therefore, effective and safe complementary or alternative therapies are needed. Dietary supplement GJ 191, comprising Epimedium, Dioscorea, and Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts, may address this need. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated GJ 191 supplementation on knee OA symptoms. Seventy-two adults (40-75 years) with mild to moderate knee OA and mild to moderate knee pain were enrolled. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quality of Life questionnaire, knee joint range of motion, serum C-reactive protein, and rescue medication use were assessed. The Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and stiffness scores were computed using KOOS scores. Results: Decreases in WOMAC pain scores were reported by both GJ 191 and placebo groups after 6 (-1.78 ± 2.71 and -1.34 ± 1.93, respectively; p < 0.01) and 12 (-2.31 ± 2.83 and -1.59 ± 2.69, respectively; p < 0.01) weeks, with no significant difference between groups. There were decreases in WOMAC stiffness scores for participants supplemented with GJ 191 by 0.53 ± 1.22 and 0.72 ± 1.46 (p ≤0.02) after 6 and 12 weeks, respectively, with respective decreases of 0.81 ± 1.51 and 0.75 ± 1.85 (p ≤0.03) for those on placebo. Significant improvements in current pain, as assessed by the Pain VAS, and bodily pain were reported by the GJ 191 group after 6 and 12 weeks, while the placebo group only reported significant improvements in these measures after 12 weeks. GJ 191 supplementation was safe and well tolerated. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in pain and stiffness scores between GJ 191 and placebo over the 12 weeks. While both groups reported improvements in WOMAC pain from baseline, improvements in current and bodily pain were experienced sooner with GJ 191 than placebo and were sustained over the study period. GJ 191 supplementation was safe and well tolerated. (CTR#: NCT04395547).

Objectives: To systematically synthesize the current evidence on the effects of art-based interventions on improving anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, and well-being of cancer caregivers. Design: A systematic review. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from their inception up to April 2024. Studies exploring the effects of art-based interventions on the psychological symptoms of cancer caregivers were included. We did not restrict the publication to the particular study designs, including randomized controlled trials, quasiexperimental studies, and qualitative studies. Results: Fifteen studies of 607 participants were identified in this systematic review. Overall, the existing studies provided preliminary evidence to suggest that art-based interventions may benefit cancer caregivers in improving anxiety, depression, stress, caregiver burden, and quality of life. However, the relatively low quality of the current evidence limits the efficacy of these findings. Conclusions: According to the existing evidence, the therapeutic benefits of using art-based interventions for improving the psychological well-being of cancer caregivers are uncertain. More high-quality and well-designed studies are still required to confirm the psychological effectiveness of art-based interventions for cancer caregivers in the future.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life, and up to 80% of those infected with COVID-19 may experience these symptoms. The objective of the present study was to identify the effects of individualized homeopathic medicinal products (IHMPs) against placebos in postCOVID-19 conditions. Design: Double-blind, randomized (1:1), two parallel arms, placebo-controlled, feasibility trial. Setting: D. N. De Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Subjects: Sixty participants with post-COVID-19 conditions. Interventions: Group verum (n = 30; IHMPs plus concomitant care) versus group control (n = 30; placebos plus concomitant care). Outcome Measures: Feasibility issues; primary-post-COVID-19 symptoms checklist; secondary-Measure Yourself Medical Outcomes Profile version 2 (MYMOP-2); all of them were measured at baseline, and monthly intervals, up to 3 months. The intention-to-treat sample was analyzed; group differences were reported using descriptive statistics: means, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and between group effect sizes (Cohen's d). Results: Feasibility concerns showed promise; recruitment, retention, and attrition rates were 34.2%, 95%, and 5%, respectively. Group differences in both primary and secondary outcomes favored IHMPs against placebos: symptoms checklist score mean difference after 3 months: -4.2, 95% CI -4.9 to -3.4, d = 2.854 and MYMOP-2 mean difference after 3 months: -2.2, 95% CI -2.8 to -1.7, d = 2.082, respectively. Natrum muriaticum (11.7%), Pulsatilla nigricans (10%), Rhus toxicodendron (8.3%), and Calcarea carbonica (8.3%) were the most frequently prescribed remedies. Conclusions: IHMPs produced better results than placebos in reducing symptoms checklist scores and MYMOP-2 scores in the treatment of post-COVID-19 conditions. Definitive trials are warranted to confirm the findings.