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CCHIM
The Centre for Complementary Healthcare and Integrated Medicine (CCHIM), Thames Valley University London has Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and its use for children as one of its main research interests. The Centre is directed by Professor Nicola Robinson. Nicola has a PhD in Immunology and a background in epidemiology and health services research. She qualified as an acupuncturist in 1982 and currently chairs the British Acupuncture Council's Research Committee. She is an associate editor of the NHS Evidence- CAM Specialist Library and Chair of the Research Council for Complementary Medicine Research (RCCM) www.rccm.org.uk. The RCCM has launched its new strategy and facilitates the development of research in CAM through its research network.
Prof Robinson and Ava Lorenc carried out a survey of paediatric outpatient use in Northwest London, 37% of parents reported using CAM for their child.(1) This work continued as a result of a grant awarded by the King’s Fund, a charity based in London. The resulting study has taken a wider view of parent’s use, including traditional as well as and complementary healthcare approaches (TCA). Focus groups with nearly 100 parents from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Northwest London have identified over 150 different TCA being used for children, including honey and lemon, turmeric, ginger, homeopathy, baby massage/yoga, steam inhalations and prayer. This study focuses on the influence of ethnicity on TCA use and how and why these approaches are used (2). Many parents continue to use traditional medicines from their country of origin after migrating to the UK, and many of these products are available in local ‘ethnic’ shops. There is also much cross cultural exchange of TCA between parents.
The study also focuses on whether conventional medical practitioners communicate with parents about TCA, as this may impact on safety and patient choice.In depth interviews with primary care practitioners (GPs, nurses, health visitors and midwives) found a wide range of attitudes to TCA, with few practitioners aware of the extent of use of TCA locally.
A decision making model has been developed (3) and this project is currently using a quantitative survey to test the model and assess both parent and practitioner views – please see www.tvu.ac.uk/cchim/tca to either complete the survey or for more information. The final phase of the study focuses on childrens eczema and GP-family communication on TCA.
We are keen to replicate our work in other countries. In particular, given the influence of ethnicity on TCA use, we would be interested to identify how this influence varies for different ethnic minority groups. To learn more about our work please visit www.tvu.ac.uk/cchim/tca
Professor Robinson has published widely and is keen to further develop complementary medicine research by encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration both locally, nationally and internationally.
References
Robinson N, Blair M, Lorenc A, Gully N, Fox P, Mitchell K. Complementary medicine use in multi-ethnic paediatric outpatients. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2008; 14: 17-24.
Robinson N, Lorenc A, Blair M. Developing a decision-making model on traditional and complementary medicine use for children. European Journal of Integrative medicine. 2009; 1:48-56.
Lorenc A, Ilan-Clarke Y, Robinson N, Blair M. How patients choose to use CAM: A systematic review of theoretical models. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009, 9:9 (22 Apr 2009).