Clinical Decision Making in Complementary & Alternative Medicine

There are few published texts that address professional practice issues in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). There are no known works that describe a clinical framework for CAM practice. The majority of texts on CAM to date explore the use or efficacy of specific CAM interventions, and whilst the proposed text will also highlight evidence-based interventions, it will also inform practitioners how to apply these interventions within a clinical decision-making framework.

• Introduces a systematic framework to CAM clinical practice
• Focus on evidence-based practice without ignoring the underlying philosophy of complementary and alternative medicine.
• Includes learning objectives and learning activities to not only consolidate reader knowledge, but to assist educators to effectively teach the process to students of CAM.
• Enables CAM practitioners to systematically assess, diagnose, treat and evaluate client-centred health problems in accordance with CAM art, science and philosophy.
• Guides CAM practitioner thinking, assessment and care, which may help to increase professional autonomy and practitioner accountability; improve client outcomes and quality of care; and reduce decision-making error.

Clinical Decision Making in Complementary & Alternative Medicine is also unique in that it:
• focuses on evidence-based practice while also paying attention to the underlying philosophy of complementary and alternative medicine
• includes learning objectives and activities to consolidate reader knowledge and help lecturers teaching complementary and alternative medicine students
• enables complementary and alternative medicine practitioners to systematically assess, diagnose, treat and evaluate client-centred health problems in accordance with the established art, science and philosophy of complementary and alternative medicine
• guides practitioner thinking, assessment and care – all of which may help increase professional autonomy and accountability, improve client outcomes and quality of care, and reduce errors in decision making