A safe and just operating space for human identity: a systems perspective.

A safe and just operating space for socioecological systems is a powerful bridging concept in sustainability science. It integrates biophysical earth-system tipping points (ie, thresholds at which small changes can lead to amplifying effects) with social science considerations of distributional equity and justice. Often neglected, however, are the multiple feedback loops between self-identity and planetary boundaries.

[Complementary and Alternative Medicines: a meta-synthesis].

The growing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) has led to an increase in the number of qualitative studies on the subject, thus justifying a meta-synthesis of the resulting material. The current article presents a systematic review of qualitative studies on CAM published in international journals. The review was conducted according to the meta-synthesis methodology.

The inequalities of medical pluralism: Hierarchies of health, the politics of tradition and the economies of care in Indian oncology.

India has an eclectic health system that incorporates biomedical as well as traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM). Our understanding of the co-existence of these therapeutic modalities in this diverse, postcolonial and developing nation is extremely limited, and in the context of cancer care, to our knowledge no sociological work has been carried out. Contemporary Indian oncology represents a fascinating site for examining the interplay and articulation of forms of tradition/modernity, economic progress/structural constraint and individual beliefs/cultural norms.

Indian Cancer Patients' use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and delays in presentation to Hospital.

Objectives: A majority of Indian cancer patients are often presented with incurable diseases at the latest phase of disease progression. The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) has been identified by Indian oncologists as a potential factor for the delay in seeking health from medical practitioners but no research has been conducted to verify such claims. The aim of this study is to identify socio-demographic and disease status differences between TCAM and non-TCAM users among cancer patients in India and associated patterns of seeking professional medical help.

Evidence-based healthcare in practice: a study of clinician resistance, professional de-skilling, and inter-specialty differentiation in oncology.

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is strongly shaping the nature and direction of biomedical practice and organisational culture. Clinicians are now expected to adopt the principles of EBM and evidence-based practice (EBP) whilst also maintaining such things as professional autonomy, clinical judgement and therapeutic integrity. Little sociological work has been done on the implications of EBM in oncology contexts.

Exploring the temporal dimension in cancer patients' experiences of nonbiomedical therapeutics.

To date, research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by cancer patients has tended to provide a "snapshot" of experience, with little attention given to the evolution of experience over time. Drawing on data from solicited diaries, this article examines individual cancer patients' temporal experiences of CAM. Our findings suggest that experiences of CAM are variable over time and space, and furthermore, that the everyday act of "doing CAM" is considerably more problematic than is often reported in face-to-face interview or survey studies.

The role of the Internet in cancer patients' engagement with complementary and alternative treatments.

This article draws on a study of 80 National Health Service cancer patients and their experiences of using the Internet within disease and treatment processes. It focuses on the role the Internet plays in the context of potential or actual engagement with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The results depart from previous conceptualizations of the Internet as a major source of CAM knowledge, and second, as a major pathway to patient CAM usage.

[Complementary and alternative therapeutics teaching in nursing schools].

There is an increasing interest on Alternative and Complementary Therapies (ACT) both by patients and health professionals and managers. This article explores ACT teaching in five nursing schools in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Detailed interviews were carried out with the people responsible for these courses as to their sociological characteristics, format, justification, and strategies to start and to maintain the courses.

Therapeutic pluralism? Evidence, power and legitimacy in UK cancer services.

The integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into cancer services is increasingly discussed as a potential part of UK health policy but as yet there has been little sociological research examining this process. This paper examines the results of a study on the provision of CAM to cancer patients in two distinct organisational contexts: the hospice and the hospital. It is based on interviews with medical specialists, nursing staff and CAM therapists.

Cancer patients' negotiation of therapeutic options in Pakistan.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Pakistan. There is increasing evidence that patients are using a range of (biomedical and nonbiomedical) therapeutic options for cancer treatment. To date there has been no sociologically informed research into the engagement of cancer patients in Pakistan with available modalities.

Use of traditional medicine and globalized complementary and alternative medicine among low-income cancer service users in Brazil.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become increasingly high profile in prosperous countries over the past 2 decades. Alongside this has been a renewed interest in the use of traditional medicine (TM) in poorer countries. Academic attention has tended to focus on either CAM in rich countries or indigenous TM in poorer ones.

Use of traditional, complementary and allopathic medicines in Pakistan by cancer patients.

Introduction: The healthcare systems of developing countries are complex in that they often accommodate a range of disparate and often competing paradigms of care. This is the case in Pakistan where Indigenous traditional medicine (TM) co-exists with Western allopathic medicine and, in theory at least, with 'globalised' complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). To date we know little about what treatments are being chosen and why in this still predominantly rural country.

Patient assessment of effectiveness and satisfaction with traditional medicine, globalized complementary and alternative medicines, and allopathic medicines for cancer in Pakistan.

Background: Virtually no research has been conducted on patient assessments of traditional medicines and allopathic medicines for cancer care in poorer countries marked by pluralistic medical environments. Pakistan represents an excellent case for such a study because of the coexistence of culturally and historically specific indigenous traditional medicine, the strong presence of allopathic medicine, and, to a lesser extent, the availability of some globalized complementary and alternative medicines.

Aim: To gain a preliminary understanding of cancer patients' perceptions of effectiveness and satisfaction with traditional medicine, globalized complementary and alternative medicine, and allopathy in the context of a pluralistic medical environment.

Toward an understanding of decision making on complementary and alternative medicine use in poorer countries: the case of cancer care in Pakistan.

During the past 2 decades, the study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in general, and the sociological study of CAM in particular, have developed apace in richer countries. In addition to data on use levels and the nature of provision, there is now increasing research on issues such as motivation for use, decision-making processes, and so on. The integration of nonorthodox therapies into cancer care has been an important focus for such work.

Introduction to the research methods in CAM series.

There is increasing awareness of a need for rigorous research into complementary and alternative medicine, but as yet, limited guidance has been given to researchers, practitioners and students as to the range and scope of the various methodologies available and how existing methods can be modified for CAM research. This research methods series provides an outline of the main methods for researching CAM-related issues, including clinical trials, cross-sectional studies and qualitative methodologies. Drawing on the experiences of a range of experts in CAM research, each article in this series addresses the scope and strengths of a particular methodological approach.

Story teller or story analyst? How useful is the storied narrative for a critical sociology of CAM and nursing?

Despite recent developments in the sociology of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), a critical analysis of the apparent affinity between CAM and nursing has, to date, remained essentially undeveloped. An empirical project is currently being conducted as an initial step to address the absence of such important critical research. A total of 30 written life history narratives were obtained from nurses working with and using CAM to explore such matters as professional boundaries and nurses' authentication strategies and conceptualisation and operationalisation of CAM.

Improving management of obesity in primary care: cluster randomised trial.

Objective: To evaluate a training programme intended to improve the management of obesity, delivered to general practice teams.

Design: Cluster randomised trial.

Setting: Northern and Yorkshire region of England.

Nostalgic and nostophobic referencing and the authentication of nurses' use of complementary therapies.

In recent years what can loosely be described as a sociology of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has begun to emerge. Although work has been conducted with lay therapists, orthodox practitioners, and consumers, overall, research in this area remains patchy and underdeveloped. Despite its role at the forefront of integration, the sociological study of the apparent affinity between nursing and CAM is virtually non-existent.

Cultural competency: professional action and South Asian carers.

Inequality and exclusion are characteristic of the experience of UK South Asian communities. In health care, community needs are often not addressed by health and social welfare services. An increase in cultural competency is now part of identified policy.

Towards a sociology of CAM and nursing.

Over recent years a sporadic, but not insignificant, sociology of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has begun to emerge. However, to date, the systematic sociological study of the apparent affinity between CAM, nursing as a profession and its practitioners has been absent from it. In this paper we argue for the need for a rigorous sociology of nursing and CAM and set out a provisional framework through which this might be operationalized.

A single-blind trial of reflexology for irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a significant problem for primary care, as treatment options are limited and it can frequently develop into a chronic condition. Complementary and alternative medicine, including reflexology, is being turned to increasingly in an attempt to manage symptoms. There are currently no studies which address the effectiveness of reflexology for IBS.