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The Internet as a research tool in complementary and alternative medicine: a pilot study
Windsor Ting1, Michael Gross, Mehmet C Oz
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, College of Physicians and Surgeions, Columbia University, NY, USA.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
|May 23, 2002
Summary
The Internet can help researchers gather information on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, specifically psychotropic herbs and drugs, from consumers. Further research is needed to refine methods for this online data collection approach.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Digital Health Research
- Pharmacovigilance
Background:
- Gathering consumer data on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, particularly psychotropic substances, presents significant challenges.
- Traditional research methods often struggle to reach diverse patient populations for CAM usage information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of the Internet as a research tool for obtaining consumer data on psychotropic herb and drug use.
- To explore the potential of online platforms for CAM consumer research.
Main Methods:
- A survey regarding psychotropic herb and drug usage was disseminated across 138 mental-health internet newsgroups.
- Data collection occurred over a 38-day period from online respondents.
Main Results:
- Out of 102 respondents, 72 (71%) reported using psychotropic medication in the past 12 months.
- Additionally, 68 (67%) of respondents indicated using psychotropic herbs during the same period.
Conclusions:
- The Internet demonstrates potential as a viable tool for reaching CAM consumers for research purposes.
- Study design modifications and cautious interpretation are recommended for future internet-based research venues.