Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use in Surgical Patients, 2001

Investigators: Prasad S. Adusumilli, Leah Ben-Porat, Meriner Pereira, Daniel Roesler, & I. Michael Leitman

Despite the rapid rise in herbal medicine consumption, explicitly eliciting and documenting herbal medicine usage among surgical patients is poor. The purpose of this study was to assess the herbal medicine usage in surgical patients and the willingness of patients to reveal their herbal medicine usage to the surgical care staff. The Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use in Surgical Patients, 2001 was conducted at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York during a 10-week period. All eligible patients presenting for elective surgery were approached and asked to participate in the study by completing a self-administered questionnaire inquiring into the self-health perceptions, herbal medicine use, and communication of such usage to surgical health-care staff.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Periconceptional Multivitamin Supplementation on Structural Birth Defects and Pregnancy Outcomes, 1984-1994

Investigators: Andrew E. Czeizel

The Randomized Controlled Trial of Periconceptional Multivitamin Supplementation on Structural Birth Defects and Pregnancy Outcomes was conducted between 1984 and 1994 at the Family Planning Center in Budapest, Hungary. The study was conducted to test the preventive effect of periconceptional1 multivitamin supplementation on the first occurrence of neural tube defects and other congenital abnormalities. The study was a randomized double-blind controlled trial involving 4,862 informative offspring from 4,783 women. Women planning a pregnancy were randomly assigned to receive a single tablet of a vitamin supplement or a trace-element supplement daily for at least one month before conception and until the date of the second missed menstrual period or later. Up to four visits with study staff took place during the study. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated prenatally, shortly after birth, and during a follow-up medical examination after the infants' 8th month of life.

Study of the Effectiveness and the Economic Feasibility of Bone-Setting, 1994-1995

Investigators: Heikki Hemmilä

A Study of the Effectiveness and the Economic Feasibility of Bone-Setting was conducted between 1994 and 1995 at the Folk Medicine Center in Kaustinen, Finland. The study was conducted to determine whether bone-setting (a form of traditional Finnish folk healing) or light exercise therapy could ease back pain and improve function better than ordinary physiotherapy. The study was a randomized, single-blind, clinical trial that lasted 6 weeks. 114 patients with prolonged back pain were randomly assigned to receive therapy involving bone-setting, a light exercise regimen, or physiotherapy. Patients received up to ten 1-hour treatment sessions during the 6 week treatment period. Patients were evaluated at the start of the study, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The main outcomes include several measures of spinal mobility, muscular performance, and back pain. Secondary outcome measures include Oswestry disability scores, number of sick-leaves, number of visits to health centers, other types of therapy received for back pain, health care costs, and quality of life.

Use and Expenditure on Complementary Medicine in England: A Population Based Survey, 1998

Investigators: Kate Thomas, Jon Nicholl, Patricia Coleman, & Christian Stacey

Use and Expenditure on Complementary Medicine in England was a population-based, cross-sectional, mail survey of adults in England. The survey was conducted in 1998 by researchers at the Medical Centre Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield. The survey was conducted to generate reliable population-based estimates of use of practitioner-provided complementary therapies in England in 1998. A previously piloted mail questionnaire was sent to sample members. The survey collected information on lifetime use and use in the past 12 months of specific types of complementary therapies and over-the-counter remedies. Information was also collected on the most recent visit to a complementary therapy provider, including reason for visit, expenditures, insurance, and location of treatment.