Review Question - QID 218378

The best response to this question is "Some patients find turmeric helpful but no studies have shown its efficacy. There is little risk so if you feel it is helpful then you can continue to take turmeric." This answer is honest and helpful but also nonjudgemental.

Alternative medicine consists of a large array of treatment modalities that exist outside of organized allopathic medical settings. Examples include herbal supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and homeopathic remedies. Many of these treatments have not been validated in peer-reviewed biomedical research so whether they are effective beyond the placebo effect is not established. Despite the relative lack of evidence supporting their usage, alternative medicine is commonly used by patients in addition to allopathic medical interventions. When addressing these treatments, providers should be honest, helpful, and nonjudgemental when offering their opinion.

Soliman et al. studied how complementary and alternative medicine was taught in medical education. They found that these topics varied widely and had poorly defined objectives and curricula. They recommend that standardized programs be created in order to better define this subject matter.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: "I am not qualified to discuss the effects of turmeric on joint pain" is incorrect even if the provider is not aware of any evidence-based studies on the topic because it does not offer to provide guidance on the topic. Providers may choose to first look into the topic before answering but should state that they will follow up with the patient once they have a better understanding of the topic.

Answer 2: "No studies have shown that turmeric is effective so I advise you to consult an orthopaedic surgeon instead" dismisses rather than supports the patient in making their own decisions regarding alternative remedies. Providers should seek to be helpful and nonjudgemental when addressing these topics.

Answer 4: "Turmeric will not cure this disease so there is no benefit to you taking turmeric at this time" does not invite the patient to share their experience with the alternative medicine and may sound judgemental to the patient. Instead, providers should seek to understand the patient's response to alternative medicine first as long as the treatment does not appear to be actively injurious to the patient.

Answer 5: "You should not take any medications or supplements until we know the diagnosis. At this time you should first get radiographs of your left knee and have bloodwork performed" is incorrect. While seeking the diagnosis may be an important step in the treatment of this patient, providers should not pass judgment on alternative medicine prematurely. Instead, providers should be helpful and nonjudgemental on this topic.

Bullet Summary:
Providers should be honest, helpful, and nonjudgemental when offering their opinion on alternative medicine.