Researching Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Researching Complementary and Alternative Medicine provides a valuable and timely resource for those looking to understand, initiate and expand CAM research. This collection brings together leading international CAM researchers with backgrounds and expertise in a variety of areas including health social science, qualitative methodology, general practice, health services research and public health. Drawing upon their own research work and experience, the contributors explain and review core methods and research issues pertinent to contemporary CAM and its future development. Topics discussed include: the use and limitation of evidence in CAM research the issues facing practitioners (GPs, therapists, nurses, etc) who wish to conduct research how and why qualitative methods should be combined alongside quantitative methods to help explore CAM how the randomised control trial (RCT) method relates to CAM the future direction of CAM research in terms of public health and policy-related agendas. Researching Complementary and Alternative Medicine is essential reading for students, academics and researchers in CAM, health studies, medicine, nursing, medical sociology and public health. It will also appeal to CAM and allied health practitioners.