Credibility and Reliability of Sources of Cam

¶ … Credibility and Reliability of Sources of CAM Information:

The identification of the most suitable Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapy to help in treatment of the patient's symptoms is a process that is based on extensive research. The increased use of CAM therapy in the American health care system provides clinicians with a new responsibility of becoming informed regarding the suitability, safety, and effectiveness of various healing procedures that are largely unfamiliar. The research process used to develop the most suitable CAM therapy involves obtaining information based on opinions rather than facts. Actually, there is plenty of research on CAM therapies that are not usually published in the established American medical journals or presented based on the traditions of standard medical research. Therefore, since the health care system requires factual information instead of opinions, clinicians face the need to ensure the credibility and reliability of the sources of Complementary and Alternative Medicine information.

Methodology for Assessment:

The increased use of CAM therapies in the modern health care system requires the development of an assessment methodology that would ensure the credibility, reliability, and relevance of the therapies in treatment of a patient's symptoms. In order to determine the appropriate CAM therapy for the symptoms in question, clinicians should ensure that the information is based on facts rather than opinions or assumptions. The most appropriate criteria or methodology for assessing the credibility and reliability of sources of CAM information incorporates various steps.

According to the British Columbia Office of Health Technology Study Appraisal Form, the first step in the process is to examine the relevance of the therapy to the patient's symptoms ("Evaluating Information Sources," 2004). The relevance of the CAM therapy to the symptoms of the patient is the basis for evaluating its quality, credibility, and reliability. Secondly, the clinicians should examine whether the source provides the author's name, his/her title and position, date of publication, and the author's organizational affiliation. This is followed by assessing the quality of research presented in the article through a systematic approach. The evaluation of the source's quality involves examining various things including whether it contains facts, arguments, statistics, opinions, descriptions, and narratives.

The other aspects to consider include whether it contains a clear purpose statement, whether it focuses on effectiveness of efficacy, research design, validity of interventions and measures, and suitability of outcomes ("Evaluating Information Sources," 2004). In addition to these steps, clinicians should evaluate whether the source of CAM information contains cited information from other sources and their reliability. The method for publication of the source and reliability of the means of publication should also be evaluated.

Review of CAM Therapeutic Modality:

The CAM therapeutic modality under review is Bee Venom Therapy, whose overview is published in NaturoDoc website. The website is renowned for presenting experiences and preferred natural health products to Internet users for more than a dozen years. Furthermore, it provides ideas in Complementary and Alternative Medicine that can be helpful in maintaining and achieving optimal health. The information provided on the website is published by Dr. Thomas Stearns Lee, a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor to prescribe traditional pharmaceuticals if they require management or are indicated. As a Naturopathic doctor, Lee is uniquely trained in natural medicines that usually contain exceptional scientific grounds and are regarded safer than the most common pharmaceutical synthetics. Dr. Lee's information is based on his long-term experience that has grown over the years and his long-standing practice in the profession.

The reliability and validity of the overview of Bee Venom Therapy provided in NaturoDoc website can be determined through a three-stage criterion. First, the website provides the author's name, his title and position, and organizational affiliation. In addition to showing that the overview has been provided by Dr. Thomas S. Lee, the website includes background information regarding the doctor and his experience in the Naturopathic field. Secondly, it provides necessary information regarding this therapeutic modality by examining the relevance of the ancient therapy in the modern health care system. The website examines the conventional use of Bee Venom Therapy and why naturopathic doctor should use it based on effectiveness, costs, and safety (Lee, n.d.). Third, it contains cited information by tracing the history of the therapy and research by American Apitherapy Society on the therapeutic modality.

Objective evaluations of reliability and credibility in CAM can be hindered by a consumer's attitudes and beliefs about CAM. This is primarily because the attitudes and beliefs of a consumer hinder the ability to evaluate the potential side effects and benefits of CAM therapies. Consumers' attitudes and beliefs play a crucial role in effective communication of their symptoms and evaluating treatment claims, which affects the reliability of CAM. My conclusion about the website has been based on critical evaluation of its credibility on the basis of dates, documentation and double-check ("Complementary and Alternative Medicine," 2011). First, I have checked the creation date of article to ensure it does not contain outdated information and findings. Secondly, I have examined whether the information was published by a qualified health professional and frequency of review. Third, I have double-checked information to find supporting evidence to prop up the claims of the therapy.

While the website provides helpful information about the CAM therapy, the credibility of its information is affected by various factors that should be considered. First, the website should ensure that its information is evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration before publication. Secondly, rather than stating that it complies with Health On the Net Foundation's Code of Conduct, the website should include HON's logo to show that it abides by the foundation's principle for information reliability and credibility. Third, the website should enhance its outlook and include the date of publications and review of its articles.