Integrating complementary medicine and health care services into practice

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Physician Attitudes

Background:

• Complementary medicine represents a significant portion of healthcare utilization in Canada.
• Historically, complementary therapies faced limited acceptance from the medical profession.
• Recent surveys indicate a shift in physician attitudes towards these services.

Discussion:

• Physicians in Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario show increasing openness to complementary health care services.
• Despite growing acceptance, physicians report a lack of understanding regarding these therapies.
• The establishment of a Complementary Medicine Section by the Medical Society of Nova Scotia highlights a response to this need.

Key Insights:

• Four out of five general practitioners in Quebec perceive at least one of three complementary services as useful.
• Physicians in Alberta and Ontario, while less enthusiastic, also demonstrate a more open-minded approach.
• There is a recognized need for more research and education on complementary health care services.

Outlook:

• Rigorous, scientific research on complementary therapies can benefit both physicians and patients.
• Outcomes research offers a way to address challenges in applying reductionist analysis to holistic care.
• Integrating patient use of complementary services into medical histories can enhance communication and care integration.