Applying comparative effectiveness research to integrative oncology

摘要

Integrative oncology is an area ripe for comparative effectiveness research. Comparative effectiveness research tools and methods can be used to identify effective integrative therapies in the context of wider medical practices, and then determine how best to roll out these therapies in the context of populations who could benefit from the treatment. Integrative oncology is the combined use of evidence-based complementary medicine with conventional medicine (Deng et al, 2009; National Centers for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012). Complementary therapies commonly used in the oncology setting include natural products (e.g., botanicals, vitamins, minerals and natural products such as fish oil), mind-body practices (e.g., yoga, meditation, qi gong, tai chi), body-based practices (e.g., massage, chiropractic, acupuncture), and other approaches to and systems of healing (e.g., naturopathy, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine). Some forms of complementary and alternative therapies are based on "self-care" and other forms are based on "practitioner-care."