Culturally grounded review of research assumptions.
In this article 11 assumptions underlying many discussions of alternative medicine are discussed and critiqued: that (1) cultural factors merely constitute noise in research data that can be removed by proper design; (2) the only proper goal of alternative medicine research is the incorporation of effective practices into medicine; (3) physicians are the primary consumers of good alternative medicine research; (4) control of pathology is the sole measure of the effectiveness of alternative medicine; (5) effects on pathology can be fully separated from effects on perception or quality of life; (6) effects on individual health should be the sole focus of alternative medical research; (7) medicine is aware of all sicknesses appropriate for alternative medicine research; (8) subjective data are less valuable than objective data; (9) the best leads for research come from recognizable systems with advocates; (10) more "modern-looking," highly articulated forms are necessarily better research "bets"; and (11) all good candidates for alternative medicine research are recognized as health practices by those who use them.
Hufford
D J
DJ
Doctors Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine, Pa., USA.
D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research