Laura C. Vanderheyden

A whole systems research approach to cancer care: why do we need it and how do we get started?

Because cancer care is presently developing into a complicated network of interventions delivered at different times and places with different intentions, there is a need to consider whether the current research approaches in clinical cancer care adequately cover the ongoing treatment choices and combinations. Researchers in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are proposing whole systems research as an additional research approach for modern systems of care, whether they include complementary and alternative medicine or not. The current status of whole systems research methodology development is mainly theoretical. Necessary components of the methodology include focus on interventions, context, process, outcomes, and philosophy. Further development should be based on observational studies using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, often combined. Only when modern healthseeking systems of treatment behaviors are thoroughly understood should fine-tuning of hypothesis-testing research methods be continued.

The Role of Scientific Evidence in the Decision to Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In a recent survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by adults with inflammatory bowel disease, 65% of participants reported that they would continue to use CAM despite a negative scientific report. This assertion was related to reported positive experiences with CAM, suggesting that positive experiences may comprise sufficient evidence to continue CAM use and may override scientific evidence. These results raise two concerns: (i) many patients do not pay attention to the evidence that we, as researchers, generate; and (ii) the evidence that we generate may not reflect patients’ experiences.

When the Body Forgets to Heal

When the Body Forgets to Heal: An Integrative Approach to Reactivating the Healing Response was hosted by the Association of Complementary Physicians of British Columbia (ACPBC), in Victoria, British Columbia during May 27–29, 2005. The ACPBC should be congratulated for putting together such a well-organized event and for ensuring the weather in beautiful Victoria was nothing short of fantastic. The ACPBC (www.acpbc.org) is a group of retired or practicing medical doctors, medical students and medical residents in Canada with a specific expertise or general interest in complementary health care or integrative medicine. The mission of the ABPBC is the advancement of excellence in holistic patient care, by promoting professional development of physicians through the exchange of ideas, research and continuing education, and by disseminating information and providing education to health professionals, students and the public. The conference was a step towards learning more about integrative healing and its role as a component of health care in Canada. The conference began with a sold-out (intended to be public) keynote address from Dr Andrew Weil: The Healing Focus of Integrative Medicine. Other keynotes were provided by Dr Gabor Mate (When the Body Says No: The Mind/Body Unity in Health); Dr Leanna Standish and Dr. Marja Verhoef (Integrative Medicine Research: Canadian and American Perspectives); and Dr. Steven Aung (Metta, Karuna, Saydana, Upekkha and Mudita: The Most Powerful Healing Energies). Keynotes were supplemented by a series of concurrent workshops and two panel presentations: Educating a New Generation of Physicians and A New Partnership for Healing: The Patient-Doctor Relationship in the Integrative Medicine of the Future. Finally, a reception on Saturday night at the Royal BC Museum was just one of many networking opportunities provided for delegates, and was a unique opportunity to visit one of Victorias treasures.