title: [Which complementary and alternative medicine modalities are integrated within Israeli healthcare organizations and do they match the public's preferences?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad term that encompasses diverse healthcare modalities that emanate from a variety of healing cultures. One of the basic principles of CAM is the promotion of cultural pluralism and openness to diverse cultural aspects of health and illness. Some CAM modalities have been integrated into Israeli healthcare organizations over the past two decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this research was to examine whether the integrated CAM modalities match the preferences of Israel's diverse ethnic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was conducted in northern Israel, an area marked by ethnic and religious diversity. We gathered information about the types of CAM modalities included in the clinics of all four public health funds health maintenance organizations (HMOs)--by means of a telephone survey. This data was assessed in relation to previous data regarding patients' preferences on integrating CAM in community care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4 HMOs offer 24 CAM modalities within 58 clinics in northern Israel. The most common CAM modalities are: reflexology, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, massage, shiatsu, twina, homeopathy and naturopathy. These modalities partly match the Jewish and Arab populations' preferences concerning Chinese medicine and touch/movement modalities. The Arab population, however, which reports greater use of folk-traditional medicine, such as consultation with healers and use of herbal medicine, do not have these treatment options available within healthcare organizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Western-oriented CAM modalities are integrated within the IsraeLi HMOs, while local folk-traditional medicine is not. The integrated modalities accord with the Jewish populations' preferences more than with those of the Arab population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of the factors that influence integration are discussed. Certain homegrown traditional healthcare modalities, such as use of local medicinal herbs, should be considered for addition to current CAM practices. Developing integrative medicine within a common Jewish-Arabic space could have medical as well as social-cultural advantages.
authors.affiliation: Western Galilee Academic College, Israel. yaelk@wgalil.ac.il
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keshet
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Arye
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*