.docx CAMs and Self-Management task

Gale: The Sociology of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

• Use of 'Complementary' started as BMA was seemingly rejecting non-orthodox medicine, receiving backlash.
• Names infer dominance
• Definitions do not remain entirely applicable as the modality changes and evolves, Sub-categorisation is inaccurate as variations exist between forms in the same group.
• Integrated medicine where all practitioners attempt to work with one another.
• Studies into patterns of usage, Reasons for usage.
• Professionalisation of CAM types, eg Chiropracy
• Investigation into legibility, training, education of CAM providers
• Big Picture: Pluralism, Integration, Hybridity, Activism
  • Pluralism: Biomedicine remains dominant. Roots in patent medicines 19th C. Revival recently, Enacted by users who focus on perceived therapeutic effectiveness, not scientific evidence.
  • Integration: Respect/Collaboration between differing views on health and treatment, Wider usage, Biomed focuses on different aspects compared to alternatives, may maintain social inequalities.
  • Hybridity: How power/knowledge are enacted/reproduced in different locations. Challenges pluralism. Does not dualise or allow for limiting dichotomies
  • Activism: CAM usage linked to social protest. Challenges integrative assumptions.
• Big Question: Does it Work? to How it may work? Alternative if proven may join ranks of medicine, Science/Non labels constructed socially, Embodiment and Intersubjectivity, 'body-stories- - alternative med version of diagnosis, Continued use of CAM following 'cure' - personal benefits
• Future Sociological Investigation: Policy, Professional, Critical, Public

Catto: Should Medical Students be taught Alternative Medicine?

• YES
• NO

Nahin: CAM - Problems and Potential

• Many early studies had several flaws
• Studies still difficult: Individualised nature of CAM therapies, finding appropriate placebo, Unstandardised, weak Statistical power.
• Good studies possible; with commitment and funding.
• Insufficient funding to study all CAM's