Read more about the pre-conferences

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• Pre-Conference A
• Pre-Conference B
• Pre-Conference C
• Pre-Conference D
• Pre-Conference E
• Pre-Conference F
• Pre-Conference G

Pre-Conference A

Title: Evaluating complex complementary and alternative treatments: building programme theory models to link intervention, context and outcomes

Conveners and speakers: Charlotte Paterson, Heather Boon, Lasse Skovgaard.

One of the major challenges in evaluating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the complexity in the courses of disease and treatment. It has been argued that the core question “what works?” should be rephrased in an extended form, “what works, for whom, when, where, and why, and from whose perspectives”? Programme theory (intervention theory, logic modeling) conceptualises outcome as linked to both mechanism and context. Used as a basis for constructing conceptual models of complex health care interventions, programme theory ensures that such models include not only the intervention and the outcomes but also explicitly represents the components and dynamic of the process and the social and cultural contexts.

The purpose of the workshop is to enhance the capability of the participants to use programme theory, and other types of conceptual modeling, in their research, evaluation and practice. It is suitable for those with and without some experience of developing conceptual models. This participative workshop will include an introduction to the subject, some examples of developing such models in CAM research and structured small group activities to try out the ideas in practice.

Several brief presentation slots are available for participants to present their own work in this area. To discuss this, or for further details of the programme, please contact charlotte.paterson@pms.ac.uk.

Pre-Conference B

Title: Research issues specific for CAM/IM in children

Preliminary PedCAM Workshop Day May 18, Tromsø, Norway

Pre-Conference C

Title: Developing best practice in traditional Chinese medicine

Presenters: George Lewith, Andrew Flower, Charlie Xue, Jian Ping Liu

In this workshop, we will discuss the concept of ‘best practice’, and how we can develop best practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A questioning approach in clinical practice will be developed in cooperation with implementing systematic review findings, clinical trials, and a Delphi process to develop best practice for clinical trials, an evolutionary process within clinical practice, as well as improving the practice of Chinese herbal medicine. Four international speakers will present the basic principles of a systematic review, the advantages and disadvantages of the Cochrane process, the pragmatic development of clinical practice in primary care, and developing, evolving and continuing to audit best practice guidelines, respectively, and various issues related to best practice in TCM will be discussed.

Pre-Conference D

Title: Closing the gap between consumers, clinicians and researchers in Complementary Therapies and Integrative Medicine

Presenters:

• Thomas A. Arcury, PhD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
• Martine Busch, MA, Van Praag Instituut, Utrecht, The Netherlands
• Alan Graham, DC, Three Treasures Tai Chi LLC, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
• Claudia M. Witt, MD, MBA, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany

This workshop addresses gaps among consumers, clinicians, and researchers within complementary therapies and integrative medicine (CT/IM) through (1) the presentation of research that documents the causes of differences, and (2) the review of programs implemented to reduce differences and increase collaboration. Learning objectives for this workshop are that participants will be able to articulate specific factors that separate consumers, clinicians, and researchers within CT/IM; define characteristics of successful programs that have brought together consumers, clinicians, and researchers within CT/IM; and design processes that will close gaps among consumers, clinicians, and researchers within CT/IM. The workshop will include six presentations addressing patient-physician communication about CT/IM; gaps in understanding the efficacy of CT/IM; legal and regulatory issues when developing an integrative medicine program; community-based participatory approaches to closing gaps in CT/IM; and Therapeutic Touch and Guided Imagery in the Netherlands and Tai Chi in the United States as examples of CT/IM used to close gaps between consumers, clinicians, and researchers. Each presentation will include an overview statement by the moderator, facilitated breakout groups on strategies for “closing the gap”, and report/discussion by the breakout groups.

Pre-conference E

Title - Sustainability in health care: Should patients have a choice?

Conveners and speakers: Katherine Irvine and Sara Warber

Time: 10-17

The workshop will provide an introduction to the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design paradigm as a framework for sustainability, an overview of what currently is being done in each of three health care cycles (product, place of treatment, individual patient) and formulation of international interdisciplinary scientific research collaborations. Central to the workshop is participatory group work in order to apply presented concepts and ideas to health care, particularly complementary and alternative treatment settings and chronic disease programmes. Speakers will include professionals from within the growing C2C network, practicing physicians and sustainability researchers.
The purpose of the workshop is to build international and interdisciplinary networks and to sow the seed for new research projects. A white paper will be developed from the workshop. The target audience includes researchers, health care providers and practitioners with interests in sustainable treatment issues.

Pre-Conference F

Title: From patient records to confirmatory evidence

Workshop organizer: Mikel Aickin, Research Professor, Family & Community Medicine, University of Arizona

This workshop will bring together researchers who are interested in collaborating on medical studies which are based on pre-existing patient electronic records. In addition to short talks to orient the discussion, the floor will be open to individuals who will be willing to discuss patient record resources they currently have (or wish they had), which might be considered for involvement in collaborative studies, and the clinical research questions they would like to see addressed.

The motivation for this workshop comes from two observations about current clinical trials. First, they are so expensive and lengthy, that they do not provide a feasible approach for the majority of the important clinical questions that need to be asked. Secondly, they generally fail to enroll participants who represent typical clinical patient streams, and they administer treatments in ways that are often not faithful to clinical practice. It seems clear that conventional clinical trials need to be supplemented by patient-based observational studies, but the resources, methodology, and incentives all remain problematic.

This workshop is structured to be participatory. The intent is to give researchers an opportunity to learn about other people who share common interests, and might be willing to move in the same direction on the theme of bringing patient-centered information to bear on real clinical concerns. Topics that would be appropriate for discussion are (but are not limited to):

• how can electronic records designed for billing or clinic management be used for research?

• what are the most important clinical questions that need patient-centered answers?

• how can methods be used or developed to overcome the lack of intervention?

• what kinds of observational studies would be convincing?

• what are the most critical barriers to research from patient records?

• should record-based research precede or follow clinical trials?

• should observational medical research be done at all?

Individuals who are interested in making short (presumably power-point) presentations should contact Mikel Aickin at maickin@earthlink.net or maickin@comcast.net

Pre-Conference G

Title: Japanese Kampo Medicine from an International Perspective: Challenges of Research and Clinical Practice

Workshop organizer: H. Reissenweber, University of Munich, Germany

Presenters:

Time: 10-17

This first international workshop on Japanese Kampo Medicine gives the opportunity to get an overview and to discuss research and clinical practice of Kampo. With its roots in ancient Chinese medicine, Kampo Medicine obtained unique features in Japan. As most complex traditional medical systems, Japanese Kampo Medicine today stands in the center of a conflict to preserve its traditional heritage on the one hand and to become an accepted and integrative part of modern medicine on the other hand. After introducing and defining the special features of Japanese Kampo medicine we will address in three sessions the following aspects: 1. Aspects of preclinical and clinical pharmacological research, 2. Current evidence on clinical research and its methodology, 3. International aspects of Kampo Medicine. The workshop will include thirteen presentations and will give room for discussions. We brought together experienced researchers and clinicians from Japan and different Western countries in the field of Kampo Medicine. The goal of the workshop is to find out the core issues for future research and collaboration within an international context. The workshop will be followed by the General Meeting of the newly founded International Society for Japanese Kampo Medicine (ISJKM).

Session A: 10.00 to 11.45 a.m.

Lunch break

Session B: 13.00-14.45 p.m.

Current evidence on clinical research and its methodology:

Coffee Break

Session C: 15.15-16.45 p.m.

International aspects of Kampo Medicine: