Patterns of patient reluctance to receive complementary-medicine treatments in a hospital setting: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: We aim to characterize the patient population that exhibits reluctance to undergo complementary medicine (CM) treatments in a hospital setting.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study among patients prior to hospitalization using structured questionnaires in a single center in Israel. Participants were asked to rate their degree of consent to receiving CM treatments during hospitalization.

Complementary and alternative medicine interventions for perioperative symptoms: A comparative effectiveness study.

Introduction: Perioperative symptoms such as pain, nausea and anxiety are often inadequately treated. We conducted a pragmatic trial to evaluate the impact of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments on these symptoms, within the framework of a general surgery department that integrates CAM.

Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years referred to CAM treatments by surgical medical staff were allocated to standard of care with CAM treatment (CAM group) or without, according to patient preference and practitioner availability.

Complementary medicine for laboring women: a qualitative study of the effects of reflexology.

Background Despite pharmacological interventions, labor pain and anxiety still remain a challenge, and can carry long-term psychological complications. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of reflexology on these symptoms and to explore the physical and psychological components of women's experience associated with this treatment. Methods This qualitative study was conducted in an Israeli university hospital that offers integrative medicine services.

Nurses as boundary actors: Promoting integrative medicine in hospital wards.

Objective: The objective of the research was to explore attitudes of hospital nurses toward integrative medicine (IM).

Design: A special training program was developed in the Bnai-Zion medical center, a public hospital in Israel, where an innovative IM program was launched.

Methods: 65 nurses from 22 wards were asked at the beginning and the end of the program to complete an open-ended questionnaire concerning three major aspects: 1) their attitudes toward complementary medicine and its integration, 2) the importance and impact of the training program and 3) how they perceive their potential role in promoting IM in the wards.

First, keep it safe: Integration of a complementary medicine service within a hospital.

Objectives: This paper sought to explore risk/safety considerations associated with the integration of a complementary medicine (CM) service within a public academic medical centre in Israel.

Methods: We reviewed various sources pertaining to the CM service (interviews with CM staff, patients' electronic charts, service guidelines, correspondence with hospital administration) and conducted a thematic analysis to evaluate safety-related incidents during the 7 years of operation. In addition, we systematically assessed the charts for reports of treatment-associated adverse effects, which were documented in an obligatory field on treatment reports.

Development and validation of a tool to evaluate Inpatient Beliefs, Expectations and Attitudes toward Reflexology (IBEAR-16).

Background: The integration of manual therapies, including reflexology, into conventional care settings is growing extensively. Patients' beliefs, attitudes and expectations toward these therapies interact with their outcomes, but currently there are no validated tools to evaluate these factors. We aimed to design and to validate such a tool specifically targeted into reflexology.

THE EFFECT OF A HYPNOTIC-BASED ANIMATED VIDEO ON STRESS AND PAIN REDUCTION IN PEDIATRIC SURGERY.

Presurgical stress and its negative influences on postsurgical recovery and pain are well documented in the medical literature. Hence, the reduction of stress is advisable. The present study aimed to reduce stress using a hypnotic-based animated video.

Effectiveness of integrating individualized and generic complementary medicine treatments with standard care versus standard care alone for reducing preoperative anxiety.

Study Objective: Preoperative anxiety is commonly reported by people undergoing surgery. A significant number of studies have found a correlation between preoperative anxiety and post-operative morbidity. Various methods of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were found to be effective in alleviating preoperative anxiety.

[Integration of complementary medicine in hospital departments: implementation model and research outline in the Cardiology Department].

Background: Systematic integration of complementary medicine in hospital departments for inpatients is rarely discussed in the medical literature. Positive outcomes from trials in this setting should encourage evaluation of complementary medicine services in hospitals.

Objective: To identify the potential role of complementary medicine in the Cardiology Department, characterize its implementation process, and conduct a feasibility study in this context.

Hypnosis-induced mental training improves performance on the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) simulator.

Background: Mental training (MT) is used extensively by musicians and athletes to improve their performance. Recently, it has been suggested as a training method for surgical trainees. We assessed the influence of MT, induced by hypnosis, on the performance of simulated tasks on a laparoscopic simulator, as compared to a non-specific relaxing intervention.

The effects of music relaxation and muscle relaxation techniques on sleep quality and emotional measures among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder with lifetime prevalence of 7.8%, is characterized by symptoms that develop following exposure to traumatic life events and that cause an immediate experience of intense fear, helplessness or horror. PTSD is marked by recurrent nightmares typified by the recall of intrusive experiences and by extended disturbance throughout sleep.

Integrating a complementary medicine service within a general surgery department: from contemplation to practice.

This article describes experience in developing a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) service within a general surgery department in a public academic hospital in Israel. A framework is suggested for integrating CAM services within a hospital, based on the authors' experience, along three themes: the organizational structure of such a service, communication with the conventional team, and self-appraisal using a research-based documentation and assessment process. With the anticipated increase in CAM utilization within medical institutions, it is hoped this article will provide foundations for successful integration of other such services.

The effect of music relaxation versus progressive muscular relaxation on insomnia in older people and their relationship to personality traits.

A large percentage of older people suffer from chronic insomnia, affecting many aspects of life quality and well-being. Although insomnia is most often treated with medication, a growing number of studies demonstrate the efficiency of various relaxation techniques. The present study had three aims: first, to compare two relaxation techniques--music relaxation and progressive muscular relaxation--on various objective and subjective measures of sleep quality; second, to examine the effect of these techniques on anxiety and depression; and finally, to explore possible relationships between the efficiency of both techniques and personality variables.