Historical perspectives on using sham acupuncture in acupuncture clinical trials.

Background: Trials of acupuncture in the West began before textbooks about acupuncture were generally available. This placed trials at risk of possible faulty assumptions about the practice of acupuncture and adoption of problematic research assumptions and methods. Further, this lack of information has had an influence on the theories of developing a valid and reliable sham control treatment in clinical trials of acupuncture.

The impact of COVID-19 on complementary and alternative medicine providers: A cross-sectional survey in Norway.

Background: The Norwegian authorities decided in March 2020 to implement a nationwide lockdown to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus. The lockdown had vast socioeconomic consequences for the society. The aim of this study was to investigate how COVID-19 affected Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) providers' practice, financial situation, recommendations to patients, and how they perceived their future practice as CAM providers.

Lifestyle changes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands.

Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic the Dutch government implemented its so-called 'intelligent lockdown' in which people were urged to leave their homes as little as possible and work from home. This life changing event may have caused changes in lifestyle behaviour, an important factor in the onset and course of diseases. The overarching aim of this study is to determine life-style related changes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among a representative sample of the adult population in the Netherlands.

Musculoskeletal injury symptoms among hired Latinx child farmworkers in North Carolina.

Background: Although children 10-17 years can be hired to work in agriculture, little research has addressed possible musculoskeletal injuries. Children may be at particular risk for these injuries because of the repetitive and load bearing nature of work tasks. Existing research relies on child workers to self-report musculoskeletal injuries.

Validity and responsiveness of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D in patients with health complaints attributed to their amalgam fillings: a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing amalgam removal.

Background: Evidence of health utility changes in patients who suffer from longstanding health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings are limited. The change in health utility outcomes enables calculating quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and facilitates the comparison with other health conditions. The purpose of this study was to estimate the validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D utilities following removal of dental amalgam fillings in patients with health complaints attributed to their amalgam fillings, and examine the ability of these instruments to detect minimally important changes over time.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Norway: a cross-sectional survey with a modified Norwegian version of the international questionnaire to measure use of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM-QN).

Background: In recent decades complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used worldwide as well as in Norway, where CAM is offered mainly outside the national health care service, mostly complementary to conventional treatment and fully paid for by the patients. With few exceptions, previous research has reported on frequency and associations of total CAM use in Norway rather than on single therapies and products. Therefore, in this present study we will map the use of CAM more precisely, including types of services, products, and self-help practices and further include reasons for use and helpfulness of the specific therapies used based on a modified Norwegian version of the I-CAM-Q (I-CAM-QN).

Communication and information needs about complementary and alternative medicine: a qualitative study of parents of children with cancer.

Background: Many parents choose support such as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for themselves and their children who have cancer. The aim of this paper is to describe, how parents who have children with cancer communicated with conventional health care providers about CAM, and what types and sources of information they would like to receive about CAM when the child was ill.

Method: This focused ethnography draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 22 families in Norway with 24 adult participants (two couples), including two individuals who had had cancer themselves.

Severity of GERD and disease progression.

Background: Many factors may play a role in the severity and progression of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) since pathophysiology is multifactorial. Data regarding the progression of GERD are controversial: some reports of increased esophageal acid exposure (EAE) and mucosal damage were considered as evidence for a stable disease course, while others interprete these findings as disease progression. The aim of this study is to analyze a large patient-population with persisting symptoms indicative of GERD under protonpumpinhibitor-therapy and identify components characterizing disease severity and progression.

The prevalence of severe grief reactions after bereavement and their associations with mental health, physical health, and health service utilization: a population-based study.

: Previous research has shown that bereaved individuals are at risk of developing physical and mental health problems. However, knowledge is scarce about the associations between severe grief reactions after bereavement and physical and mental health problems and the use of health services. : The present study sought to investigate the prevalence of severe grief reactions and to study the associations of severe grief reactions with mental and physical health and health care utilization.

A scoping review to map the concept, content, and outcome of wilderness programs for childhood cancer survivors.

Objectives: Systematic mapping of the concept, content, and outcome of wilderness programs for childhood cancer survivors.

Design: Scoping review.

Search Strategy: Searches were performed in 13 databases and the grey literature.

Adverse effects in homeopathy. A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Almost all health care interventions have the potential to be associated with risk to patient safety. Different terminologies are used to define treatment induced risk to patient safety and a common definition is the term adverse effect. Beyond the concept of adverse effect and specific to homeopathy is the concept of homeopathic aggravation.

Patients' experiences of the caring encounter in health promotion practice: a qualitative study in Swedish primary health care.

Background: Previous studies have reported that organizational structures and cultures in primary health care are obstacles to district nurses doing successful work in health promotion practice (HPP). Because organizational structures are not easily changed, Jean Watson's Attending Nurse Caring Model (ANCM) was introduced and piloted at a primary health care center in Sweden, aiming to transform HPP so as to empower district nurses and increase their work satisfaction.

Aim: To investigate patients' experiences of the caring encounter in HPP after introduction of the ANCM in Swedish primary health care, the aim being to explore the essential components of the caring encounter between patients and district nurses.

A systematic review of Tuina for irritable bowel syndrome: Recommendations for future trials.

Objectives: This systematic review assessed whether Tuina (therapeutic massage) is more effective and safer than no treatment or routine medical treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: Eleven databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of IBS diagnosed based on Manning or Rome criteria. Tuina with or without routine treatments (RTs) was tested against RTs.

Acupuncture as a Treatment Within Integrative Health for Palliative Care: A Brief Narrative Review of Evidence and Recommendations.

Acupuncture is one of the fastest developing evidence bases in Complementary Medicine and is one of the leading therapies included within integrative health care. This narrative review includes two separate parts: the first is about evaluation of the current evidence status in reviews on acupuncture and the second examines and gives examples of available recommendations on acupuncture in treatment guidelines from health care experts and public health organizations recommending acupuncture as a viable treatment in patients in palliative care. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed using the terms "acupuncture" + "palliative" and adding the term "safety" to find review articles documenting safety and evidence of effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of symptoms in palliative care patients.

Removal of dental amalgam restorations in patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam: A prospective cohort study.

Background: The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services initiated a project including experimental treatment for patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam restorations.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate changes of general health complaints in patients who participated in the project and had all amalgam restorations removed.

Methods: The project was designed as a prospective cohort study and organised by the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen, Norway.

Pediatric tuina for the treatment of anorexia in children under 14 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Pediatric tuina is used to prevent and treat disease by employing various manipulative techniques on specific parts of the body, appropriate to the child's specific physiological and pathological characteristics.

Objective: To evaluate the effects and safety of pediatric tuina as a non-pharmaceutical therapy for anorexia in children under 14 years.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing pediatric tuina with medicine for anorexia were included in this review.

An integrative review on the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine.

Background: Parents often choose Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a supportive agent with the aim to reduce cancer treatment-related symptoms in their children. Therefore, it is necessary to understand parents´ information and communication needs regarding CAM. The aim of the present study was to review the research literature as to identify the information and communication needs of parents of children with cancer, and the children themselves, regarding the use of CAM.

Combining psychotherapy with craniosacral therapy for severe traumatized patients: A qualitative study from an outpatient clinic in Norway.

Background: Craniosacral therapy (CST) is an established complementary modality for several health complaints. A clinic for psychosomatics in Norway has included CST into a multimodal treatment approach for severely traumatized patients. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the indications for the use of craniosacral therapy within trauma therapy.

Medical pluralism in the aftermath of cancer: health seeking actions and cancer patients' shaping of trajectories to healing.

Improved treatment methods for cancer are increasing the number of survivals in Norway. In turn, the group of people struggling with late effects after the treatment is growing. Late effects could be physical, psychological or existential conditions caused by treatment or the experience of illness.

Use of traditional and complementary medicine among Norwegian cancer patients in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study.

Background: Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) is commonly used by cancer patients in Northern Norway, in particular spiritual forms like traditional healing. T&CM is mainly used complementary to conventional cancer treatment and is rarely discussed with conventional health care providers, increasing the risk of negative interaction with conventional cancer care. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of T&CM among cancer patients in Tromsø, and to investigate the differences in T&CM use between people living with cancer, people with cancer previously, and people without a history of cancer.

Prevalence, and health- and sociodemographic associations for visits to traditional and complementary medical providers in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study.

Background: Patient-centered culturally sensitive health care (PC-CSHC) has emerged as a primary approach to health care. This care focuses on the cultural diversity of the patients rather than the views of the health care professionals. PC-CSHC enables the patient to feel comfortable, respected, and trusted in the health care delivery process.

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pain - A Mega-Placebo?

Several control conditions, such as penetrating sham acupuncture and non-penetrating placebo needles, have been used in clinical trials on acupuncture effects in chronic pain syndromes. All these control conditions are surprisingly effective with regard to their analgesic properties. These findings have fostered a discussion as to whether acupuncture is merely a placebo.