1. Complementary & Alternative Medicine Principles and Explanations

2. Objective The learner will be able to state the principles of CAM use.

3. Guiding Principles for CAM Established by the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (WHCCAMP) Principles address access, delivery, and education • Focus is on patient wholeness • Evidence for safe and effective use • Emphasis on a person’s healing capacity • Respect for individuality • The right to choose treatment • Emphasis on health promotion and self-care • Partnering with the patient is essential • Education is fundamental • Communication of comprehensive and timely information • Public involvement

4. Why do people use CAM? CAM is an extension of ancient healing traditions extending from: • Hymns • Prayers • Herbs • Plants • Bodily healing.

5. Why do people use CAM? • Improve health and well-being • Relieve symptoms associated with disease • Experience a holistic health experience • Want greater control over own health

6. Who Uses CAM? According to the 2007 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data: • 38% of adults use some form of CAM. • 12% of children use some form of CAM. The three most commonly used CAM therapies are: • Natural products • Deep breathing • Meditation.

7. Who Uses CAM? • People of all different backgrounds use CAM • Greater CAM use in: women higher income levels higher level of education

8. Patients with Cancer & CAM Studies done between 2000-2010 demonstrate that CAM use in patients with cancer ranges from 25% to 80%.

9. CAM Research History in Patients with Cancer • 1950-1960: National Cancer Institute started to evaluate various CAM therapies that were gaining attention. • 1990: U.S. Congress started to compile study results of various CAM therapies. • NCI started clinical trials involving CAM therapies. • 1998: NIH started the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as the leading agency for CAM research.

10. ONS Position Statement on CAM “Oncology nurses may be caring for patients without knowledge of concurrent complementary, alternative, and/or integrative therapy use. Routine assessment of use and close monitoring of patients using these therapies have the potential to enhance patient safety and promote integrative care.” Position statement can be found at http://www.ons.org/Publications/Positions/CAM

11. References National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2012). Various pages retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov Oncology Nursing Society. (2009). Oncology Nursing Society position on the use of complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies in cancer care. Retrieved from http://www.ons.org/Publications/Positions/CAM