title: The International Collaboration on Complementary Therapy Resources (ICCR): working together to improve online CAM information.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of the Internet to find health information is increasing dramatically but the quality of information, particularly on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is variable. The International Collaboration on Complementary Therapy Resources (ICCR) involves collaboration between the national CAM information centers in Australia, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and a CAM information service in Germany.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study objectives were to compare the services and areas of expertise offered by each of the national CAM information services, to explore common challenges encountered in practice, and to establish specific objectives for the collaboration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The workshop incorporated set templates for presentations, brainstorming, and analysis of notes to identify common themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences and similarities between the various services were revealed. Common challenges were identified under the main themes of overall context, users and needs, content and processes. Based on these themes, it was possible to agree on a number of specific objectives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The member organizations of the ICCR serve a range of different audiences and have varied remits to fulfill. For the international collaboration to be effective, it was necessary to identify common challenges and to agree on specific objectives and potential ways of working together. Progress to date is also discussed together with plans for the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Therapy, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK. k.pilkington@westminster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pilkington
authors.forename: Are
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamst
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ostermann
authors.forename: Dimity
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardon
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D058996:Quality Improvement; D014481:United States