Update/Correction: When I wrote about this Evidence-Based Guide, apparently I was looking at an abbreviated online version. I mistakenly believed the book was very short (possibly because the guide is new?). But that was incorrect -- I'd thought Chapter 3 on Allergic Disorders was only one page long, but had I looked more closely at the Table of Contents, I would have seen it covers pages 43-58. Seems the entire guide is 400+ pages. Sorry about that, and thanks to the Evidence Soup readers who pointed this out.
On Twitter, I ran across a mention of the ACP Evidence-Based Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine, viewable free online, and available for purchase (as an ebook or in print). Its primary purpose is "to provide the busy clinician with at-a-glance access to a comprehensive evidence-based analysis of complementary and alternative medicine therapies. In-depth reviews of the research are thoroughly digested into concise summary tables, placing key information at the reader's fingertips."
To evaluate the quality of evidence and strength of various recommendations, the ACP guide employs the Grade Working Group system. (The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group began as an informal collaboration of people with an interest in addressing the shortcomings of present grading systems in health care. They have "developed a common, sensible and transparent approach".)
Common language is crucial. The Alternative Medicine guide uses Grade to enforce the use of consistent language in describing the quality of evidence about the effectiveness of various treatments (see below). This is an important step in truly collaborating or developing a set of standards in any field.
An admirable effort. This is a significant undertaking, and I like what they're doing with this guide -- the right intent is there, and they seem to have gathered together people who can make it happen. (Contributors include lots of people with "MD" after their names, and they are using a nice publishing tool, ipublishcentral.net, to create a reader-friendly experience.) Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has gained substantial recognition over the past 15 years, and it deserves an evidence-based analysis.
Needs supplements? This guide probably needs more time to fully evolve -- and I'm guessing it's probably suffering from a lack of solid CAM-related evidence to chew on. For example, consider Chapter 3 on Allergic Disorders. It's only one page long.
"For example, consider Chapter 3 on Allergic Disorders. It's only one page long."
It looks like what is available online is only a small portion of the book. If you look in the Contents section of the online publication, you'll see that the Allergic Disorders section looks to be 16 pages long (pp 43-59).
Posted by: anonymous | Friday, 17 July 2009 at 12:18 PM