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International development of traditional medicine / complementary and alternative medicine research - what can Europe learn?

International development of traditional medicine / complementary and alternative medicine research - what can Europe learn?
International development of traditional medicine / complementary and alternative medicine research - what can Europe learn?
The aim of this study was to analyse global research and development (R&D) strategies for traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) across the world to learn from previous and on-going activities.

Methods: 52 representatives within CAMbrella nominated 43 key international stakeholders (individuals and organisations) and 15 of these were prioritised. Information from policy documents including mission statements, R&D strategies and R&D activities were collected in combination with personal interviews. Data were analysed using the principles of content analysis.

Results: Key stakeholders vary greatly in terms of capacity, mission and funding source (private/public). They ranged from only providing research funding to having a comprehensive R&D and communication agenda. A common shift in R&D strategy was noted; whereas 10 years ago research focused mainly on exploring efficacy and mechanisms, today the majority of stakeholders emphasise the importance of a broad spectrum of research, including methodologies exploring context, safety and comparative effectiveness.

Conclusion: The scarce public investment in this field in Europe stands in stark contrast to the large investments found in Australia, Asia and North America. There is an emerging global trend supporting a broad research repertoire, including qualitative and comparative effectiveness research. This trend should be considered by the EU given the experience and the substantial research funding committed by the included stakeholders. To facilitate international collaborative efforts and minimise the risk of investment failure, we recommend the formation of a centralised EU CAM research centre fostering a broad CAM R&D agenda with the responsibility for implementing the relevant findings of CAMbrella.
1661-4119
44-50
Hok, J.
a5fcd4e9-5c8f-4dfa-80d0-5071c121e311
Lewith, G.
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Weidenhammer, W.
2ba1d339-8973-4746-b0f0-e9d9cc4e466a
Santos-Rey, K.
e2508ab2-3fb9-4688-a839-cd049e940926
Fonnebo, V.
a22de59b-c710-4bdb-85f7-c0bb37f91f56
Wiesener, S.
20ca44d1-07a3-4b6c-99ea-95642debcd3c
Falkenberg, T.
1afb13d8-a6f6-4c69-a791-4d40d239818e
Hok, J.
a5fcd4e9-5c8f-4dfa-80d0-5071c121e311
Lewith, G.
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Weidenhammer, W.
2ba1d339-8973-4746-b0f0-e9d9cc4e466a
Santos-Rey, K.
e2508ab2-3fb9-4688-a839-cd049e940926
Fonnebo, V.
a22de59b-c710-4bdb-85f7-c0bb37f91f56
Wiesener, S.
20ca44d1-07a3-4b6c-99ea-95642debcd3c
Falkenberg, T.
1afb13d8-a6f6-4c69-a791-4d40d239818e

Hok, J., Lewith, G., Weidenhammer, W., Santos-Rey, K., Fonnebo, V., Wiesener, S. and Falkenberg, T. (2012) International development of traditional medicine / complementary and alternative medicine research - what can Europe learn? [in special issue: Insights into the Current Situation of CAM in Europe: Major Findings of the EU Project CAMbrella] Complementary Medicine Research: Practice, Methods, Perspectives, 19, supplement 2, 44-50. (doi:10.1159/000342724).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse global research and development (R&D) strategies for traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) across the world to learn from previous and on-going activities.

Methods: 52 representatives within CAMbrella nominated 43 key international stakeholders (individuals and organisations) and 15 of these were prioritised. Information from policy documents including mission statements, R&D strategies and R&D activities were collected in combination with personal interviews. Data were analysed using the principles of content analysis.

Results: Key stakeholders vary greatly in terms of capacity, mission and funding source (private/public). They ranged from only providing research funding to having a comprehensive R&D and communication agenda. A common shift in R&D strategy was noted; whereas 10 years ago research focused mainly on exploring efficacy and mechanisms, today the majority of stakeholders emphasise the importance of a broad spectrum of research, including methodologies exploring context, safety and comparative effectiveness.

Conclusion: The scarce public investment in this field in Europe stands in stark contrast to the large investments found in Australia, Asia and North America. There is an emerging global trend supporting a broad research repertoire, including qualitative and comparative effectiveness research. This trend should be considered by the EU given the experience and the substantial research funding committed by the included stakeholders. To facilitate international collaborative efforts and minimise the risk of investment failure, we recommend the formation of a centralised EU CAM research centre fostering a broad CAM R&D agenda with the responsibility for implementing the relevant findings of CAMbrella.

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More information

Published date: November 2012
Organisations: Primary Care & Population Sciences

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Local EPrints ID: 347570
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/347570
ISSN: 1661-4119
PURE UUID: d7cce489-2c7c-4aa6-8595-1f02782e1855

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Date deposited: 25 Jan 2013 14:28
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:49

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Contributors

Author: J. Hok
Author: G. Lewith
Author: W. Weidenhammer
Author: K. Santos-Rey
Author: V. Fonnebo
Author: S. Wiesener
Author: T. Falkenberg

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