Bridging CAM practice and research: teaching CAM practitioners about research methodology

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Medical Education

Background:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding supports complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research.
• CAM providers often lack the scientific and research methodology knowledge needed for rigorous proposal development.
• This knowledge gap limits CAM providers' roles in academic research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a training course for community-based CAM providers.
• To enhance CAM providers' understanding of scientific terminology, research design, and grantsmanship.
• To improve CAM providers' ability to critically evaluate research literature and design pilot studies.

Main Methods:

• A 7-week course was developed and implemented for community-based CAM providers.
• Participant recruitment strategies were detailed.
• Course design, instructional methods, and evaluation using qualitative and quantitative approaches were described.

Main Results:

• The course aimed to equip CAM providers with essential research competencies.
• Evaluation results informed the effectiveness of the training program.
• The study provides a framework for future CAM provider research training initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Training opportunities are crucial for increasing CAM providers' expertise in research.
• Enhanced expertise will facilitate greater participation and success in seeking funded research.
• Suggestions are offered for developing local and national training programs to support CAM research capacity building.