News & Views item

News & Views item - December 2012

Friends of Science in Medicine Issues Its 4^th News Letter. (December 22, 2012)

Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM) was formed just on a year ago "out of concern about the increasing number of dubious interventions, not supported by credible scientific evidence, now on offer to Australians".

To access its four published Newsletters click here.

As it states on its home page: "of immediate concern was the inclusion by a number of our universities (and other tertiary institutes) of ‘pseudosciences’ in their health science courses, in some cases preparing graduates to practise them. This trend provides totally undeserved credibility for useless, and sometimes dangerous, approaches to healthcare."

Newsletter No.4 has this to say about its Letters to universities and their responses:

While Southern Cross University has not responded to FSM’s letters, it told Australian Doctor in September that it was awaiting the results of a recent external review “to investigate the thoroughness of the science teaching which underpins the complementary therapies being taught at the university”.

FSM has sent a second letter to universities, asking them to re-commit to the need for all science teaching to be underpinned by credible scientific data. While some universities were quick to declare that they take this approach, others have still not responded or have done so in ambiguous terms. FSM feels that a third letter will not elicit useful information. The table on the FSM website remains incomplete, but, should any new information emerge, will continue to be updated. FSM remains open to universities, course coordinators or involved staff and students who might wish to provide evidence allowing FSM to correct or update the table.

Click here to access the latest updates to this table

*Institution*	*Skeptics description of courses offered (2011)*	*Summary of University Responses to FSM* *(CAM = Complementary and Alternative Medicine)*
Central Queensland University	Bachelor and Masters of Chiropractic Science
Charles Sturt University	Bachelor Health Science-Complementary Medicine	Agrees broadly with FSM call for evidence base. Says FSM has “moderated its views” to recognise research into Alternative medicine. Says FSM should recognise differences between courses in different universities. Says it has a responsible balance between demands for complementary health services and producing graduates trained in science and evidence-based health. 27/2/12
Curtin University	Evidence Based Complementary Medicine	Commends FSM stance that science is cornerstone of health education. Says that Complementary Med. units are evidence-based and “for sole purpose of provid(ing) pharmacy graduates with the knowledge, skills and ability to critically appraise the evidence around the use of a range of complementary and alternative medicines.” 15/3/12
Edith Cowan University	Complementary and Alternative Medicines	Email acknowledged receipt of FSM letter. 23/2/12
Macquarie University	Bachelor of Chiropractic Science, Master of Chiropractic, six MU chiropractic clinics
Monash University	Graduate Certificate in Medical Acupuncture	Endorses general proposition that teaching should be based on a solid scientific grounding. Argues that it is important to explore in a scientific manner areas not fully understood (possible efficacy of various natural products; social and economic effects of alternative health care approaches). 31/1/12
Murdoch University	Bachelor of Science in Chiropractic, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Chiropractic, MU Chiropractic Clinic Veterinarian Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture
RMIT	Bachelor and Masters of Health Science (Chiropractic) Chinese Medicine/Human Biology – Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture and Chinese Manual Therapy), Diploma and Masters in Acupuncture	Energy Medicine has not been taught since 2010. There are no plans to reintroduce it. 22/4/12
Southern Cross University	Bachelor of Clinical Science includes students pursuing a career in osteopathy and naturopathy. SCU Health Clinic will “Train students in applying naturopathic and osteopathic skills in assessment and treatment”
University of Ballarat	Course in Complementary Medicine
University of Newcastle	Complementary Therapies in Healthcare (including complementary therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, Reiki, meditation, and guided imagery).	Supports the need for health education to have a strong evidence-based approach underpinned by appropriate scientific research. Believes it is important that health practitioners are aware of a range of approaches they may encounter, so offers an elective in nursing about complementary health therapies and health care to help nursing students assist patients to make informed decisions in the use of these therapies. 5/3/12
University of New England	Bachelor and Masters programs open to alternative practitioners including naturopaths, herbalists, aromatherapists, reflexologists, and homeopaths
University of Queensland (Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine)	This Centre undertakes “scientific research to evaluate the scientific foundation of complementary medicine and integrates evidence-based complementary therapies into clinical care”.	Sympathetic to FSM argument. Does not teach nor has ever taught any of the listed programs. Strong commitment to evidence-based practice. Conducts research into foundation science of CAM. Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine does scientific research to evaluate evidence base for CAM and studies integration of CAM into clinical care. Does not accept that this promotes pseudoscience.8/3/12
University of Technology, Sydney	Bachelor Health Science Traditional Chinese Medicine, UTS Traditional Chinese Medicine/acupuncture clinics.
University of Western Sydney	Bachelor of Applied Science (Naturopathic Studies), Graduate Diploma in Naturopathy, Master Health Science Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine, University Clinic offering naturopathy, podiatry, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.	Has conducted research and teaching in CAM, especially Chinese Medicine, for more than two decades. Uni has a direct impact on the formation of national (and other) policy, and provides evidence-based summary guidance. Allied health and medical programs, including those in Chinese Medicine, comprise a major focus on acquisition of scientific evidence and instruction in evidence-based clinical practice. Recognises the importance of adequate scientific evidence in all health care practices. Undergraduate program is approved by Chinese Medicine Board of Australia, “ensuring appropriate national standards.” Teaching programs will continue to be supported and strengthened by significant and focused research activities, and contribute to an evidence-based approach to clinical practice of CAM. 9.3.12
University of Sydney		Seeks to maintain the highest standards of epistemological rigour in all our courses.” Can’t speak for whether all courses in other universities necessarily do so. 17.2.12
Swinburne University of Technology		Shares FSM view that university health and allied health teaching programs should be based on sound scientific principles and clinical evidence. Programs in complementary medicine were discontinued in 2005. Graduate School of Integrative Medicine disestablished in 2006. No longer offers any complementary medicine programs. 2.3.12

University of Adelaide		Agrees that researchers need appropriate evidence to justify therapies and interventions. Once this is established it is important that medical and health graduates be informed of these. Believes “all our educational programs are underpinned by robust evidence and ... our graduates will contribute to improving the quality of our health system by being trained within this paradigm.” 20/2/12.
University of Melbourne		Does not offer any degrees in complementary or alternative medicine and has no plans to introduce any. 1/2/12
University of New South Wales		Does not teach any degree programs in area of concern. Does not believe that pseudosciences should be presented as though they have unwarranted credibility. Does expose medical students to complementary and alternative medicine to consider which of these is evidence-based. (Undated)
Griffith University		Does not have any specifically named programs in complementary and alternative medicine and has no plans to develop any (undated)
University of Tasmania		Regards the scientific validity of many CAM compounds as limited, but believes there is sufficient preliminary data to warrant further research to identify novel compounds, tested in formal randomised, controlled, clinical trials. Cautions against the potentially dangerous aspects of some CAM medicines and believes that it is important that health providers are informed about use and risks and have general knowledge of underlying philosophy in order to weigh evidence in regard to use of CAM. All courses are underpinned by evidence-based practice approach and developing skills to evaluate reliability and validity of public information. Currently engaged in research to establish efficacy of a range of CAM treatments to inform undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. 30.4.12
At some institutions thecurriculum is not clear about whether alternative therapies are discussed, supported or actively taught to be practised. FSM has written to all universities and, on the basis of responses, has amended this table accordingly. Some universities have not replied or have responded with an ambiguous reply. Other institutions explicitly mention critical analysis of efficacy and safety as part of their courses.