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This review examines the integration of traditional pharmacological methods with alternative and complementary therapies in chronic pain management. It delves into neurostimulation techniques, highlighting their clinical outcomes and biological bases. Acupuncture's role in modulating pain pathways is explored, illustrating its balance of tradition and clinical application. The paper also covers the pain-relieving potential of herbal medicine, emphasizing natural products' significance in pain relief. Additionally, it discusses the psychological and rehabilitative dimensions of pain through psychosocial therapy and counseling. The conclusion underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, integrating diverse therapies into conventional pain management to effectively treat chronic pain. This synthesis highlights the synergistic potential of combining traditional and innovative therapeutic modalities, offering a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals in enhancing pain management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This article examines the feedback of health care providers within the implementation of an integrative care project in a clinic for pediatric oncology in São Paulo, Brazil. Since 2017, the project has implemented external anthroposophic therapies in the activities of daily nursing. The objective is to evaluate how the project evolved and what impact it had on the daily operation of the hospital. A special focus emphasizes the perspective of study nurses. Materials and Methods: Twelve qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted. Audio files were transcribed, translated to German, and underwent a MAXQDA software-assisted analysis. Using a thematic approach, coherent cross-case topics were defined. Results: Three main topics emerged from analysis of the data. (1) The implementation and its effects on daily patient care demonstrated positive outcomes in patients and were well accepted with minimal changes in daily activities. (2) The perspective of study nurses showed a large motivation due to beneficial and stress-relieving effects of the application and a growing patient–health care provider relationship. (3) Problems and aspirations for improvement were the lack of time and the urge to make the project grow in the future. Conclusion: Not only patients but also health care providers seem to benefit from integrative methods. They have the potential to improve the working atmosphere and to strengthen relations between patients, caregivers, and family members. General feedback was positive and acceptance in the team arose over time when beneficial effects became visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe and contrast the prevalence and trends of sick leave in patients with pain or stress disorders referred to inpatient care that integrates conventional and complementary therapies, that is, integrative care (IC). Methods: County council and social insurance data were used to retrospectively observe cross-sectional sick leave prevalence at four time points: 1 year before the first registered inpatient visit with the target diagnosis, after referral at index, and at 1 and 2 years after index. To contrast the IC findings, observations of patients with similar background characteristics referred to conventional care (CC) were used. Results: The sick leave prevalence of IC pain patients and IC stress patients increased from the preceding year to peak at index, where after it decreased back toward preindex levels over 2 years. Overall sick leave prevalence was higher in IC than in CC, where analogous but lower prevalence trends of sick leave changes were observed. Conclusions: Observed sick leave prevalences, which were higher in IC than in CC, gradually decreased over time following IC or CC referral. While natural recovery or other reasons for change of sick leave cannot be excluded, future prospective and randomized clinical trials are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OVERVIEW: As the use of complementary and alternative medicine-CAM-has surged in popularity in the United States, many hospitals have begun integrating complementary services and therapies to augment conventional medical care. In this article, the first in a five-part series that will examine various aspects of holistic nursing and forms of complementary care currently in use, the authors provide an overview of some of the integrative care initiatives being introduced in hospitals throughout the United States and report on findings from a survey they conducted of nursing leaders at hospitals that have implemented integrative care programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the absence of conclusive evidence of effectiveness, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by 4 of 10 adults in the US; little is known about the association between CAM use and health status.Objective: To determine the relation between CAM use and self-reported health status and health improvement over time.Design and Participants: We performed a secondary database analysis using data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey of non-institutionalized US residents conducted by the National Center of Health Statistics of the Center for Disease Control. We identified CAM users and compared them to non-users. We used multivariable logistic regression to model the health status of respondents. We controlled for confounders including socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. The models were evaluated for discrimination and calibration.Main Measures: The likelihood of respondents to report 'Excellent' current health and 'Better' health than in the prior year.Key Results: Based on 23,393 respondents, we found 37% of U.S. adults used complementary and alternative medicine and 63% did not use any CAM. Compared to those who did not use CAM, CAM users were more likely to rate their health as 'Excellent' (adjusted-odds ratio (AOR) = 1.14, 95% CI = [1.03,1.26]). Similarly, CAM users were more likely to report their health as 'Better' than in the prior year (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI = [1.49,1.83]). The c-statistics for the two models were 0.755 and 0.616, respectively.Conclusion: We found a significant association between CAM use and self-rated excellent health and health improvement over the prior year. Prospective trials are required to determine whether CAM use is causally related to excellent health status and better health than in the prior year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article there are presented: prevalence; pathophysiology; diagnosis; treatment (conventional therapy and complementary and alternative medicine - CAM); integrative therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, there has been increased awareness and use of complementary/alternative therapies (CAM) in many countries without the health care infrastructure to support it. The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine referred to the combining of mainstream medical therapies and CAM as integrative medicine. The creation of integrative health care teams will definitely result in redefining roles, but more importantly in a change in how services are delivered. The purpose of this paper is to describe a model of the necessary health care agency resources to support an integrative practice model. A logic model is used to depict the findings of a review of current evidence. Logic models are designed to show relationships between the goals of a program or initiative, the resources to achieve desired outputs and the activities that lead to outcomes. The four major resource categories necessary for implementing integrative care are within the domains of a) professional and research development, b) health human resource planning, c) regulation and legislation and d) practice and management in clinical areas. It was concluded that the system outcomes from activities within these resource categories should lead to freedom of choice in health care; a culturally sensitive health care system and a broader spectrum of services for achieving public health goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society has initiated a research project dealing with bridge building and integrative treatment. Little attention has been paid to research on the experience of conventional and alternative practitioners with bridge building and integrative treatment through teamwork. Objective: The objective of this article is to describe essential features of the preparatory phase of the research project focusing on the process of initiating and developing a team of conventional and alternative practitioners before treating people with Multiple Sclerosis at a specialized MS hospital in Denmark. The team consists of five conventional and five alternative practitioners. Materials and Methods: The preparatory phase took place from August 2004 to May 2005. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the ten team practitioners. Each practitioner was interviewed before and eight months after joining the team, and after participating in four practitioner-researcher seminars. Written materials and participatory observations of practitioner-researcher seminars have been used in addition. Results: The team-building process involved motivation, emotions, challenges, professional and personal competences, and the development of a professional team identity. The practitioners assessed the preparatory phase based on researcher-practitioner seminars as an essential basis for moving on to provide treatments to people with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]