What are the benefits of integrating traditional and complementary medicine practices into conventional health care?

Introduction

Integrating traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) practices into conventional healthcare systems has been a topic of growing interest. This approach aims to enhance patient care, improve health outcomes, and offer cost-effective solutions. The following synthesis presents key insights from multiple research papers on the benefits of such integration.

Key Insights

Improved Patient Outcomes and Satisfaction
- Integrating T&CM with conventional medicine can lead to better health outcomes, reduced side effects, and higher patient satisfaction .
- Patients appreciate having all their care under one trusted physician, which promotes relaxation, reduces distress, and empowers them to take charge of their treatment .
Cost-Effectiveness
- Combining T&CM with conventional methods can yield substantial cost savings by reducing the overuse of pharmaceutical interventions and lowering healthcare costs .
Enhanced Quality of Life
- T&CM practices, such as herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and acupuncture, can improve the quality of life for patients, particularly those undergoing cancer treatment, by alleviating symptoms like pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues .
Support for Chronic Disease Management
- T&CM can be particularly beneficial in managing chronic diseases and conditions such as arthritis, COPD, fibromyalgia, and heart disease, offering non-invasive and holistic treatment options .
Increased Access and Equity
- Integrating T&CM into national health systems can improve equitable access to care, especially in regions with well-established integration strategies, by including T&CM in health insurance coverage .
Regulation and Safety
- Effective integration requires robust regulation of T&CM products, practitioners, and services to ensure quality and safety, which can improve the overall quality of healthcare services .
Interprofessional Collaboration
- Successful integration is facilitated by interprofessional education and communication between conventional clinicians and T&CM practitioners, which helps in establishing mutual trust and understanding.

Conclusion

Integrating traditional and complementary medicine practices into conventional healthcare systems offers numerous benefits, including improved patient outcomes and satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, enhanced quality of life, and better management of chronic diseases. Effective integration also promotes equitable access to care and requires robust regulation and interprofessional collaboration. These combined approaches can lead to a more holistic, patient-centered healthcare model.

What are the benefits of integrating traditional and complementary medicine practices into conventional health care?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Integrating modern, alternative and complementary medicine: A holistic approach to better patient care and cost-effectiveness

Integrating alternative and complementary medicine with conventional methods can lead to substantial cost savings, reduced side effects, improved patient satisfaction, and enhanced health outcomes for various medical conditions.

Integrating Traditional and Complementary Medicine with National Healthcare Systems for Universal Health Coverage in Asia and the Western Pacific

Integrating traditional and complementary medicine into national health systems can advance universal health coverage by improving quality, efficiency, equity, accountability, and sustainability and resilience.

Designing delivery models of traditional and complementary medicine services: a review of international experiences.

Integrating traditional and complementary medicine into conventional healthcare can be successful with patient demands, strong leadership, and interprofessional education and communication.

Stepping from traditional to integrative medicine: perspectives of Israeli-Arab patients on complementary medicine's role in cancer care.

Integrating complementary medicine in cancer care should focus on improving quality of life and addressing safety concerns, particularly regarding drug-herb interactions.

Integrating Complementary Therapies into a Traditional Oncology Practice

Integrating complementary therapies into oncology practices can benefit patients, improve patient satisfaction, and increase revenues, while promoting relaxation, reducing cancer-related distress, and boosting the immune system.

The use of complementary and alternative medical therapies among older persons around the world.

Integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into healthcare systems can benefit older patients in the long run, while addressing potential risks and addressing the need for patient interviews.

Complementary medicine in conventional practice

Successful integration of complementary medicine into conventional settings is more likely with a focus on patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and reduced prescribing and referrals.

The benefits of integrative and complementary practices in the quality of life of oncological patients: a literature review

Integrative and complementary practices can improve the quality of life for cancer patients by alleviating anxiety, pain, and controlling adverse side effects.

Alternatives that work--an insurer's path to integrated healthcare.

Integrating traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine into healthcare delivery can yield great individual health benefits and significant cost savings, as demonstrated by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Book Review: Complementary Medicine in Clinical Practice

This book introduces mainstream health professionals to an integrative approach to healing, promoting preventive care, self-care, and empowered patients through the integration of complementary and alternative therapies.

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