Ghassemi J. Finding the evidence in CAM: a student's perspective.
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2005;
2:395-7. [PMID:
16136219 PMCID:
PMC1193551 DOI:
10.1093/ecam/neh111]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2005] [Accepted: 07/20/2005] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This commentary offers a future health care provider's perspective on the role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Western (namely, in US) medical education and practice. As a student of both public health and medicine in the United States, Jeffrey Ghassemi is interested in CAM's contribution to improving medical practice and teaching. The commentary highlights the ambiguous definitions of CAM to Westerners despite the rising popularity of and expenditures for alternative modalities of care. It then argues for collaboration between alternative and established medical communities to ascertain the scientific merits of CAM. It concludes by calling for a new medical paradigm that embraces the philosophies of both communities to advance education and patient care.
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