06 | 16 | 2008 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: It's Time to Talk

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) -- a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently launched an educational campaign to encourage patients (particularly those 50 years of age or older) to speak openly with their primary care providers about complementary and alternative medicines.  The campaign, known as Time to Talk, focuses on medical practices and products that aren't presently considered to be conventional medicine -- items such as herbal supplements, meditation and acupuncture.

According to a national consumer survey conducted by NCCAM and AARP, almost two-thirds of people age 50 or older are using some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), yet less than one-third of these CAM users talk about it with their providers. The NCCAM/AARP survey revealed some reasons why this doctor-patient dialogue about CAM does not occur. The most common reasons survey respondents cited were

  • "That the physician never asked
  • They did not know they should discuss CAM
  • There was not enough time during the office visit."

More than 50% of respondents who had talked about CAM with their physician said they initiated the CAM discussion themselves. The telephone survey was administered to a nationally representative group of 1,559 people age 50 or older.

The Time to Talk campaign addresses the need for this dialogue and helps ensure safe, coordinated care among all conventional and CAM therapies. Talking openly allows for integrated care, but also minimizes the danger of interactions with a patient's conventional treatments.

NCCAM's Time to Talk campaign offers tools and resources such as wallet cards, posters, and tip sheets — all of which are available for free online.  The organization also offers the following advice for health providers and patients:

Patient Tips for Discussing CAM with Providers

  • "When completing patient history forms, be sure to include all therapies and treatments you use. Make a list in advance.
  • Tell your health care providers about all therapies or treatments — including over-the-counter and prescription medicines, as well as herbal and dietary supplements.
  • Take control. Don't wait for your providers to ask about your CAM use.
  • If you are considering a new CAM therapy, ask your health care providers about its safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions with medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter)."

Provider Tips for Discussing CAM with Patients

  • "Include a question about CAM use on medical history forms.
  • Ask your patients to bring a list of all therapies they use, including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal therapies, and other CAM practices.
  • Have your medical staff initiate the conversation."

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

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