[Next] [Previous] [Top] [Contents] [Index]
The Exploratory Centers were chosen following a process begun in
1994.
"The purpose this RFA (#OD-94-004, mandating establishment of
centers) is to provide a mechanism to examine the potential
effectiveness and validity of alternative medical (AM) therapies and
to provide clinical /scientific/technical assistance to AM
investigators as they develop their research projects."
"The mission of the OAM is to encourage and support the investigation
of AM practices, with the ultimate goal of integrating validated
alternative medical practices into health and medical care. 'AM
practices' are therapies represented by preliminary clinical data on
which systematic and scientific retrospective and / or prospective
research projects could be based.
"The AM community possesses a potentially useful accumulation of
patient data that could be evaluated for treatment outcome. The NIH
and OAM recognize the need for: (1) scientifically-based research for
AM therapies across the range of diseases; (2) identification of the
role of AM in clinical outcomes, prevention, and health improvement;
(3) development of both an independent and collaborative research
capacity in the AM community; (4) multi-disciplinary research
approaches in AM research; (5) a network of research organizations
that includes both the AM and conventional medical communities; and
dissemination of research findings.
"The Public Health Service is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of 'Healthy People 2000,'
an initiative for setting national health policy and priorities.
Although 'Healthy People 2000' does not currently specify an
Alternative Medicine objective, this RFA involves priority areas
within the 'Healthy People 2000' objectives that involve alternative
medical health care. To obtain a copy of 'Healthy People 2000' (Full
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Summary Report: Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington DC 20402-9325 (telephone
202-783-3238)."
"The demographics, prevalence and patterns of use of
unconventional medicine in the United Sates have recently been
described (New England J. Med. 328:246-252, 1993). The most relevant
findings are the following: (a) most people use unconventional
therapies for chronic rather than life-threatening medical
conditions; (b) The elderly are significant users of alternative
therapies; (c) users of alternative therapies do not inform their
primary care physicians; (d) extrapolation to the United States
population suggests that Americans made approximately 425 million
visits to providers of unconventional therapy during 1990; and (e)
expenditures associated with alternative therapies appear similar to
non-reimbursed expenses incurred for all hospitalizations in the
United States. These findings indicate that alternative medicine
modalities pickup a larger role in the self-health care of U. S.
citizens than previously understood.
"Despite that broad use of alternative medicine treatments, there is
a paucity of data available to demonstrate convincingly whether these
AM practices are efficacious, safe, and/or beneficial, lead to
positive clinical outcomes, improve quality of life, reduce or
eliminate adverse symptoms, prevent disease, or promote or enhance
health. A similar conclusion was reached in a 1990 report on
unconventional can treatments by the U. S. Office of Technology
Assessment, OTA-H-405, 1990, p. 225.
"The exploratory center is viewed as a first step in developing
future specialized or comprehensive centers in Alternative Medicine.
It will support planning for new interdisciplinary programs involving
experienced investigators from conventional medicine and clinicians
and investigators from Alternative Medicine. It will provide
clinical/scientific/technical assistance to investigators, as well as
funds for pilot studies on Alternative Medicine topics from
investigators outside the center". (NIH Guide, Vol. 23, No. 15, April
15, 1994)
Example of center goals
The Center to Evaluate
Alternative Therapies for Addictions and Related Disorders at the
Minnesota Medical Research states that funds will be used to
focus on utilization, applicability, and effectiveness of certain
alternative medical treatments for addictive, health, and
physiological complications of substance abuse. Major activities will
be:
1. to establish linkages among alternative medical practitioners and
between alternative and conventional medical practitioners;
2. to conduct field assessments of alternative therapies;
3. to develop and promote the transfer of knowledge of alternative
therapies through education and technical assistance; and
4. to work with an advisory group, conduct peer reviews and
evaluations, and maintain liaison with other alternative medical
centers and interests. (Alternative Medicine (NIH OAM), Nov.
1994)
[Next]
[Previous]
[Top] [Contents]
[Index]