ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how practice in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can be evaluated. A three-year project was funded by Newcastle Primary Care Team to pilot a model of integration of complementary therapies alongside orthodox medical approaches. To enable integration between complementary medicine and primary care, a number of complementary practitioners were based at general practitioner (GP) surgeries. Patients could be referred by their own GP to any of the surgeries hosting complementary practitioners. The range of patients being seen and demand for the service led to the development of a clear protocol for referral which was felt to have resulted both in a steady flow of appropriate patients and a way of curtailing high demand for the service. Patients living in the area could also make a self-referral. It was agreed that qualitative research would provide a greater understanding of why people chose to try CAM, and its perceived impact.
