Over the past twenty years an increasing number of people are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), even though there are fewer evidence based studies, compared to traditional medicine. Although CAM is difficult to define as it covers such a broad range of practices, CAM can promote a patient-centred, self-help, holistic approach to health care (Cant, et al. 2011: 529). CAM is often categorised as natural and holistic, as opposed to scientific, evidence-based and invasive. However, CAM overlaps with many biomedical models, which is another reason as to why CAM is becoming more socially acceptable and legitimate (Broom 2014: 425).
There are tensions between CAM and traditional medicine in Australia, which is partly due to the increasing popularity of CAM approaches, that often vary in terms of what health outcomes they offer. CAM offers multiple therapeutic approaches, including aromatherapy, herbalism, acupuncture and spiritual healing (Broom 2014: 425). Patient preferences are shifting towards CAM as more people are challenging medicine. Therfore social attitudes are shifting in the way individuals seek preventative, and health care treatment. As there has been little researh on the effectiveness of CAM, it is clear that social influences can be attributed to
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One of these concerns is that is can take advantage of vulnerable people, who may be charged unrealistic or unfair prices for health advice. CAM is so self-focused, it can lead to a sense of failure or victimisation from the individual, if the treatments do not give them the health outcomes they wanted (Barry 2006: 2655). Another criticism of CAM is its legitimacy as there is little empirical evidence has been gathered about the effectiveness of these treatments. Many patients of CAM find this approach to health is more aligned to everyday, real-world experiences, rather than feeling like another statistic in mainstream
2.3 Explain how the health and social care practitioner own values, beliefs and experiences can influence delivery of care.
CAMs can be divided into various categories. These include natural products, mind-body medicine, manipulative and body-based practices, and whole medical systems (National Center, 2011, para.4). Each of these categories include a variety of practices, medicine, and medical treatments.
Nowadays, complementary alternative medicine is very popular in the United States. It is widely used by adults and children. National health statistic reports done in 2007 shows that 38.3% of adults and 11.8% of children use some form of alternative medicine (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). But why is this happening? Why is it becoming so popular? Why are more people turning to it? Many times, this is because conventional medicine has not work and they want to try an alternative. That is the case of the author of this paper.
D1: I have decided to look at a 6 year old going through bereavement. Bereavement means to lose an individual very close to you. When children go through bereavement they are most likely to feel sad and upset about the person’s death. Children at a young age may not understand when a family member dies. Children may not understand bereavement. For example a 6 year old’s father been in a car crash and has died from that incident. Death is unpredictable and children can’t be prepared for a death of a family member as no one knows when someone is going to die or not. Unfortunately every child can experience bereavement even when a pet dies. It is important that we are aware that effects on the child so we can support them in the aftermath.
There are many different uses of alternative medicine and that can be used in a variety of situations. Some people may be skeptical of alternative medicine since they are not aware of the facts and statistics. By homeopathy becoming more popular people will not be as skeptical. “Despite the successes of many alternative therapies, the phrase "alternative medicine" has not acquired a completely respectable air. To many, especially doctors trained in conventional medicine, "alternative therapies" seem unscientific and dangerous” (Badertscher). As the author shows that although alternative medicine may seem skeptical to people, there are many reasons to prove that alternative medicine is an overall better solution. Badertscher also explains the many benefits to his view of alternative medicine of seeking to work with the body 's own natural healing processes” (Badertscher). For example, a person may suffer from chronic back pain may decide to go to a chiropractor instead of using medication such as oxycodone. In this Badertscher shows the benefit that using the body’s natural healing does and that it puts the person in control of their
These alternative treatments include acupuncture, meditation, and therapy among many others.There is growing evidence that the desire for alternative medicine is expanding because people undergoing procedures in today’s health care system has had unmet needs as well as feelings of being uncared for (Acari & Flanagan, 2015). Alternative medicine is able to provide patients with treatments that provide relief for hard to cure problems such as back pain, neck pain, and arthritis. Many of these alternative treatments have been shown to be successful for various problems. The use of complimentary and alternative medicine as well as the open ended communication that holistic nursing provides is gaining popularity from patients who are fed up with traditional care and hospital
Furnham, A. & Forey, J. (1994).The attitudes behaviors and beliefs of patients of conventional vs. complementary (alternative) medicine: Journal of Clinical Psvchologv. 50(3), 458-469.
Easthope, G., 2005. Alternative Medicines. In: Germov, ed. An Introduction to Health Sociology. Melbourne :Oxford University Press, pp. 332-348.
Even with all today’s advances in medicine, 30% of adults and 12% of children use healthcare outside of the conventional or mainstream medicine. When non-mainstream medicine is used in place of conventional medicine it is known as alternative. When non-mainstream medicine is used with conventional medicine it is known as complementary. A combination of conventional and complementary is known as integrative medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine, also known as CAM, is the use of medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. It is most commonly used by people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by an event. Symptoms usually include behavior
What does ‘care’ mean? Care is the provision of what is necessary for your health, welfare and protection of someone or something. However when you talk about ‘care’ in a care practice the term changes and becomes more about enabling people to meet all their needs which would refer to their social, physical, emotional, cognitive and cultural needs. The individual is central to the meaning of care in this context.
Today, many Americans face the struggle of the daily hustle and bustle, and at times can experience this pressure to rush even in their medical appointments. Conversely, the introduction of “patient-centered care” has been pushed immensely, to ensure that patients and families feel they get the medical attention they are seeking and paying for. Unlike years past, patient centered care places the focus on the patient, as opposed to the physician.1 The Institute of Medicine (IOM) separates patient centered care into eight dimensions, including respect, emotional support, coordination of care, involvement of the family, physical comfort, continuity and transition and access to care.2
Joos S.,(2008). The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Germany - a focus group study of GPs. BMC Health Services Research,8,127–140.Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2442431/
There are some downfalls to CAM, but there are also some major positives. CAM is not well researched or well tested, but there are some organizations out there like the NCCAM and the NIH that are working to make CAM well known. There are also jobs out there for doctors who are interested in CAM and everything CAM has to offer these doctors are called Naturopathic doctors. These doctors are committed to healing the person using therapeutic treatment. They also have to follow of code of conduct. They teach the patient the power of self-healing and how the mind and body are one. They do not just treat the symptoms; instead they treat the whole person: they treat the mental, emotional, and physical sides of the person and also many more aspects of that person. The types of practices a Naturopathic doctor will do are, for example, intravenous and injection therapy, counseling, and natural childbirth. There are also many more roles a naturopathies doctor takes on. This type of doctor does not just take on your sickness; they take on your whole life. They are there for more than when you are sick. They help facilitate the body’s ability to maintain optimal health. They are also allowed to give prescriptions, but prefer more natural healing agents. The type of natural healing agents they prefer would be a thing like essential oils. These oils are oils that are naturally occurring and they help the user in many positive
Some reasons for this increase are that “alternative treatments are thought to offer more control over health care decisions, and alternatives are seen as more compatible with the patient’s values, worldview, beliefs regarding the nature and meaning of illness and health” or a person truly believes that they can be cured of their ailment by the use of only CAM treatments (Astin, 1998). Another reason why people turn toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is that one might have an aversion to doctors. Some CAM treatments include therapies, herbal medicine, and acupuncture (Collinge, 1996). In the early life of medicine, what is now thought of as complementary and alternative medicine was all that there was for healing. The history of complementary and alternative medical treatments can be traced back centuries.
Health care has always been an interesting topic all over the world. Voltaire once said, “The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” It may seem like health care that nothing gets accomplished in different health care systems, but ultimately many trying to cures diseases and improve health care systems.