Abstract
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been increasing in Japan. At Tokushima University Hospital, we started CAM consultation clinic in July, 2007 to give consumers scientific information of CAM by specialists. In other university hospitals, Osaka University (since 2006) and Kanazawa University (since 2008), have CAM clinics. To communicate among CAM clinic staffs, we held the First Meeting for Staffs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinics of University Hospitals at July 14, 2008 by inviting Dr. Satoshi Ohno, Kanazawa University, to Tokushima University Hospital.
Effective ways to grasp the CAM use of the patients and to communicate with physicians were discussed. Possible undesirable interaction of CAM on other prescription should be mentioned. Scientific evidence obtained by clinical trials is the background of most answers. It is difficult to recommend some specific CAM in our clinics. We need to enlighten physicians, other co-medical staffs and patients on CAM clinics.
There are still many issues to be addressed in CAM clinic practice, and we are planning to have other chances to communicate to improve the quality in consultation. In addition, to establish evidence in CAM, the importance to promote clinical trials was emphasized.
(Consultation Clinic for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Tokushima University Hospital: Hiroaki Yanagawa, Chiho Sato, Junji Terao, Eiji Takeda, Yoshihisa Takaishi, Yoshiki Kashiwada, Kazuyoshi Kawazoe, Shuji Fushitani, Koichiro Tsuchiya, Aiko Yamauchi)
