Complementary and alternate systems of medicine are here to stay.
Their increasing popularity is common knowledge. Recent articles published
in BMJ(1,2) and the response to them vouch for this. The focus on
integration mentioned by Vickers(1) is very pertinent, given the wide
spectrum of health care options available to patients. As pointed out in
that article training, education and regulation are vital elements that
would directly impact on integration.
The practice of chiropractic is now regulated in countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and the USA. Practitioners of this
profession are required to undergo a rigorous training program. In
Australia this training is currently offered at two Universities -
Macquarie University in Sydney and the Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology in Melbourne.
At Macquarie University the students have to complete a two-year
masters (MChiro) program (following a 3 year BChiro course) to be eligible
to apply for registration to practice. The curriculum includes basic
medical science subjects (viz. anatomy, physiology, pathology,
microbiology) during the undergraduate/postgraduate part of the program.
The program also encourages critical thinking and evidence based practice.
This form of training fosters a critical approach as evidenced by the
research activities of the Department of Chiropractic in various clinical
fields such as asthma, backache and migraine as well as basic research
into mechanisms of pain, using animal models.
More and better research would no doubt boost the image of any system
of medicine, be it mainstream or complementary. However, no genuine
research is possible in an atmosphere of suspicion. The way forward is for
a healthy collaboration.
1 Vickers A. Complementary medicine. BMJ 2000;321:683-6.
2 Ernst E. The role of complementary and alternative medicine. BMJ
2000;321:1133-5.
Rapid Response:
Healthy collaboration is required
Editor
Complementary and alternate systems of medicine are here to stay.
Their increasing popularity is common knowledge. Recent articles published
in BMJ(1,2) and the response to them vouch for this. The focus on
integration mentioned by Vickers(1) is very pertinent, given the wide
spectrum of health care options available to patients. As pointed out in
that article training, education and regulation are vital elements that
would directly impact on integration.
The practice of chiropractic is now regulated in countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and the USA. Practitioners of this
profession are required to undergo a rigorous training program. In
Australia this training is currently offered at two Universities -
Macquarie University in Sydney and the Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology in Melbourne.
At Macquarie University the students have to complete a two-year
masters (MChiro) program (following a 3 year BChiro course) to be eligible
to apply for registration to practice. The curriculum includes basic
medical science subjects (viz. anatomy, physiology, pathology,
microbiology) during the undergraduate/postgraduate part of the program.
The program also encourages critical thinking and evidence based practice.
This form of training fosters a critical approach as evidenced by the
research activities of the Department of Chiropractic in various clinical
fields such as asthma, backache and migraine as well as basic research
into mechanisms of pain, using animal models.
More and better research would no doubt boost the image of any system
of medicine, be it mainstream or complementary. However, no genuine
research is possible in an atmosphere of suspicion. The way forward is for
a healthy collaboration.
1 Vickers A. Complementary medicine. BMJ 2000;321:683-6.
2 Ernst E. The role of complementary and alternative medicine. BMJ
2000;321:1133-5.
Competing interests: No competing interests