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Alternative medicine practices are typically characterized by a lack of biological plausibility, testability, and supporting evidence of effectiveness, distinguishing them from conventional medicine which employs the scientific method.
Answer: True
The source defines alternative medicine as practices that typically lack biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or supporting evidence of effectiveness, contrasting with conventional medicine's reliance on the scientific method.
Complementary medicine is defined as using alternative medicine *instead of* mainstream medical treatment, based on the belief that it improves the effects of conventional therapies.
Answer: False
Complementary medicine is defined as using alternative medicine *together with* mainstream medical treatment, not instead of it. Alternative medicine is used *instead of* standard treatments.
Traditional medicine becomes classified as 'alternative' when it is used outside its original cultural setting or when it is known to be based on superstition and will not work.
Answer: True
Traditional medicine is reclassified as 'alternative' when used outside its original cultural context, or when it is reasonably understood by the patient or practitioner to be based on superstition and demonstrably ineffective.
The NCCIH classifies 'Whole medical systems' as one of the five major groups of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Answer: True
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) classifies 'Whole medical systems' as one of its five major groups of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
According to the source, what is a fundamental difference between alternative medicine and conventional medicine?
Answer: Alternative medicine typically lacks biological plausibility and supporting evidence, while conventional medicine employs the scientific method.
The source states that alternative medicine typically lacks biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or supporting evidence of effectiveness, unlike modern medicine which employs the scientific method.
Which of the following terms is NOT listed as being used interchangeably with 'alternative medicine'?
Answer: Evidence-based medicine
The source lists complementary medicine, integrative medicine, holistic medicine, natural medicine, unorthodox medicine, fringe medicine, and new age medicine as terms often used interchangeably with alternative medicine. 'Evidence-based medicine' is not listed among these.
How do medical organizations like the UK NHS and US CDC distinguish between 'complementary medicine' and 'alternative medicine'?
Answer: Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments, while alternative medicine is used instead of them.
Medical organizations like the UK NHS and US CDC distinguish complementary medicine as being used *in addition to* standard treatments, whereas alternative medicine is used *instead of* standard treatments.
When does traditional medicine become classified as 'alternative'?
Answer: When it is used outside its original cultural setting or when known to be based on superstition.
Traditional medicine becomes classified as 'alternative' when used outside its original cultural setting, when used alongside or instead of known functional treatment, or when it is reasonably expected that the patient or practitioner knows it is based on superstition and will not work.
Which of the following is NOT one of the five major groups of CAM classified by the NCCIH?
Answer: Pharmaceutical drug development
The NCCIH classifies CAM into Whole medical systems, Mind-body interventions, 'Biology'-based practices, Manipulative and body-based practices, and Energy medicine. Pharmaceutical drug development is not one of these categories.
Naturopathy is based on a belief in a supernatural vital energy, while homeopathy relies on extreme dilutions that result in preparations containing only water.
Answer: True
Naturopathy is founded on a belief in a supernatural vital energy, and homeopathy relies on extreme dilutions that typically result in preparations containing only water, rendering it scientifically invalid.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is scientifically validated through its reliance on an accurate model of internal organ anatomy and physiology.
Answer: False
Traditional Chinese Medicine's claims are based on an inaccurate model of internal organ anatomy and physiology, among other non-scientific beliefs, lacking scientific validation.
Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, has been found to contain toxic levels of heavy metals in its products, leading to significant safety concerns.
Answer: True
Studies have revealed toxic levels of heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic in Ayurvedic products, leading to documented cases of heavy metal poisoning and safety concerns.
Biofield therapy and bioelectromagnetic therapy are both scientifically supported by empirical evidence for the existence of energy fields they claim to influence.
Answer: False
Scientific skepticism criticizes the lack of empirical evidence for the existence of the purported energy fields that biofield therapy claims to influence, and bioelectromagnetic therapy's claims similarly lack scientific support.
The central concept of 'vertebral subluxation' in chiropractic is a scientifically proven entity that explains how spinal manipulation affects health.
Answer: False
The central concept of 'vertebral subluxation' in chiropractic is a pseudoscientific construct for which no empirical evidence of its existence has been established.
Reiki practitioners claim to transfer supernatural energies to heal patients, and its efficacy is supported by credible scientific evidence.
Answer: False
Reiki practitioners claim to transfer supernatural energies to heal patients, but it lacks credible scientific evidence to support its efficacy.
What is a significant scientific issue associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) claims?
Answer: Its claims are based on an incorrect model of internal organ anatomy and physiology.
Traditional Chinese Medicine's claims are based on an incorrect model of internal organ anatomy and physiology, among other non-scientific beliefs.
Which of the following heavy metals has NOT been identified as a safety concern in Ayurvedic products?
Answer: Aluminum
Studies have found toxic levels of heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic in Ayurvedic products, but aluminum is not specifically mentioned as a safety concern in the provided text.
What is the scientific standing of 'biofield therapy'?
Answer: Scientific skepticism criticizes the lack of empirical evidence for the existence of its purported energy fields.
Scientific skepticism criticizes biofield therapy due to the lack of empirical evidence for the existence of the purported energy fields it claims to influence.
What is the pseudoscientific basis of chiropractic, according to the source?
Answer: The belief that manipulating the spine unblocks a supernatural vital energy called Innate Intelligence.
Chiropractic was originally based on the belief that manipulating the spine unblocks the flow of a supernatural vital energy called Innate Intelligence.
What is the scientific assessment of Reiki's efficacy?
Answer: It lacks credible scientific evidence to support its efficacy.
Reiki lacks credible scientific evidence to support its efficacy, despite practitioners' claims of transferring supernatural energies.
What is a primary concern regarding 'herbal remedies and other substances' in alternative medicine?
Answer: Only a tiny minority have shown mild-to-moderate beneficial health effects, and regulation is lacking.
Concerns regarding herbal remedies and other natural substances arise because only a tiny minority have shown mild-to-moderate beneficial health effects, and there is little regulation regarding their standards and safety.
The 'alternative medicine' movement gained prominence in the West in the 1970s, fueled by factors like the New Age movement and patient frustration with science-based medicine.
Answer: True
The 'alternative medicine' movement rose in the West in the 1970s, fueled by the New Age movement and patient frustration with the limitations and side effects of science-based medicine.
In 1975, the American Medical Association (AMA) strengthened its efforts against quackery by expanding its quackery committee and Department of Investigation.
Answer: False
In 1975, the American Medical Association (AMA) abolished its quackery committee and closed its Department of Investigation, marking a significant change in its historical stance against quackery.
By 2001, a majority of US medical schools had incorporated some form of CAM training into their curricula, despite historical exclusion.
Answer: True
By 2001, at least 75 out of 125 medical schools in the US were offering some form of CAM training, indicating a significant shift from historical exclusion.
What socio-cultural factor contributed to the rise of the 'alternative medicine' movement in the West in the 1970s?
Answer: Patient frustration with the limitations and side effects of science-based medicine.
The rise of the 'alternative medicine' movement in the 1970s was fueled by patient frustration with the limitations and side effects of science-based medicine, among other factors.
What significant change did the American Medical Association (AMA) make in 1975 regarding 'quackery'?
Answer: It abolished its quackery committee and closed its Department of Investigation.
In 1975, the American Medical Association (AMA) abolished its quackery committee and closed its Department of Investigation, marking a significant change in its historical stance.
What percentage of primary healthcare in Africa utilizes traditional medicine, according to the source?
Answer: 80%
The source states that 80% of primary healthcare in Africa utilizes traditional medicine, largely due to severely restricted access to essential modern medicines.
What trend was observed in the use of alternative therapies in America between 1990 and 1997?
Answer: A 50% increase in expenditures and a 25% increase in users.
Between 1990 and 1997 in America, there was a notable increase in the use of alternative therapies, with a 50% increase in expenditures and a 25% increase in the number of people using these practices.
Scientific consensus holds that alternative therapies are generally effective, with research often being of high quality and free from publication bias.
Answer: False
Scientific consensus indicates that alternative therapies lack scientific validation, with their effectiveness being either unproven or disproven, and research often being of low quality and methodologically flawed, exhibiting selective publication bias.
Edzard Ernst estimated that approximately 50% of alternative therapies were based on 'sound evidence,' making them generally more effective than placebos.
Answer: False
Edzard Ernst estimated that only about 7.4% of alternative therapies were based on 'sound evidence,' and concluded that 95% were statistically indistinguishable from placebo treatments.
The Helsinki Declaration makes it ethically challenging to conduct clinical trials for alternative medicine when effective conventional treatments already exist, as withholding established treatment is unethical.
Answer: True
The Helsinki Declaration makes it ethically challenging to conduct clinical trials for alternative medicine when effective conventional treatments exist, as it is unethical to withhold an established, effective treatment.
Cancer researcher Andrew J. Vickers argued that many alternative cancer treatments are 'unproven' because they have not yet been investigated in clinical trials.
Answer: False
Andrew J. Vickers argued that many alternative cancer treatments, often labeled 'unproven,' have actually been investigated in good-quality trials and shown to be ineffective, thus being 'disproven'.
What is the general scientific consensus regarding the efficacy of alternative therapies?
Answer: Their effectiveness is either unproven or disproven, often with methodologically flawed research.
The general scientific consensus is that alternative therapies lack scientific validation, with their effectiveness being either unproven or disproven, and research often being of low quality and methodologically flawed.
According to Edzard Ernst, what proportion of alternative therapies were based on 'sound evidence'?
Answer: Less than 10%
Edzard Ernst estimated that only about 7.4% of alternative therapies were based on 'sound evidence,' which is less than 10%.
What ethical challenge arises when conducting clinical trials for alternative medicine if effective conventional treatments exist?
Answer: The Helsinki Declaration makes it unethical to withhold an established, effective treatment.
The Helsinki Declaration makes it ethically challenging to conduct clinical trials for alternative medicine when effective conventional treatments exist, as withholding an established, effective treatment is unethical.
What was Andrew J. Vickers' argument regarding many 'unproven' alternative cancer treatments?
Answer: They have actually been investigated in good-quality trials and shown to be ineffective, thus 'disproven'.
Andrew J. Vickers argued that many alternative cancer treatments, often labeled 'unproven,' have actually been investigated in good-quality clinical trials and shown to be ineffective, thus being 'disproven'.
Herbal remedies and other natural substances used in alternative medicine are subject to rigorous regulation regarding their standards and safety, similar to conventional pharmaceuticals.
Answer: False
The alternative medicine lobby has successfully pushed for alternative therapies, including herbal remedies, to be subject to significantly less regulation than conventional medicine, and there is little regulation regarding their standards and safety.
Alternative therapies can 'complement' or improve the effect of functional medical treatment by enhancing the efficacy of prescription drugs.
Answer: False
Alternative therapies do not 'complement' or improve the effect of functional medical treatment; instead, they can cause significant drug interactions that may negatively impact conventional treatments by making them less effective.
Paul Offit proposed that alternative medicine becomes quackery only when it directly causes physical harm to patients.
Answer: False
Paul Offit proposed that alternative medicine becomes quackery not only through direct harm but also by recommending against helpful conventional therapies, draining financial resources, or promoting 'magical thinking'.
The Institute of Medicine identifies 'direct harm,' 'economic harm,' and 'indirect harm' as categories of harm from alternative medical techniques.
Answer: True
The Institute of Medicine identifies 'direct harm,' 'economic harm,' and 'indirect harm' as the three categories of harm associated with alternative medical techniques.
The 'appeal to nature' fallacy is often used to justify rigorous side-effect testing for alternative therapies, asserting that natural substances require thorough safety evaluations.
Answer: False
The 'appeal to nature' fallacy is often used to suggest the inherent safety of alternative therapies, asserting that 'That which is natural cannot be harmful,' thereby justifying less rigorous side-effect testing.
Delaying conventional treatment in favor of alternative medicine can lead to severe negative outcomes, including death, due to 'opportunity cost'.
Answer: True
Delaying or forgoing effective conventional treatment in favor of alternative medicine can lead to severe negative outcomes, including death, representing an 'opportunity cost' where beneficial conventional care is missed.
How do alternative therapies typically interact with conventional medical treatments?
Answer: They can cause significant drug interactions, making conventional treatments less effective.
Alternative therapies can cause significant drug interactions, such as herbal preparations interfering with prescription drugs, potentially making conventional treatments less effective.
According to Paul Offit, which action would NOT cause alternative medicine to cross the line into 'quackery'?
Answer: Conducting rigorous scientific trials to prove efficacy.
Paul Offit proposed that alternative medicine becomes quackery by recommending against helpful conventional therapies, promoting potentially harmful therapies, draining financial resources, or promoting 'magical thinking.' Conducting rigorous scientific trials is the opposite of these actions and would not be considered quackery.
What fallacy is often invoked to suggest the inherent safety of alternative therapies, despite their potential for dangerous side effects?
Answer: Appeal to nature
The 'appeal to nature' fallacy, which asserts 'That which is natural cannot be harmful,' is often used to suggest the inherent safety of alternative therapies, despite their potential for dangerous side effects.
The 'regression to the mean' phenomenon explains how a patient seeking alternative treatment when their condition is at its worst may naturally experience an improvement, mistakenly attributing it to the inert treatment.
Answer: True
Regression to the mean is a statistical phenomenon where a patient seeking treatment when their condition is at its most extreme may naturally experience a less extreme result, leading to a mistaken attribution of improvement to an inert alternative treatment.
Patients may report improvements from alternative therapies due to politeness, observer bias, or the placebo effect, rather than direct therapeutic effects.
Answer: True
Patients may report improvements due to factors such as politeness, observer bias from researchers, or the placebo effect, which are distinct from direct therapeutic effects of the alternative therapy.
The marketing of alternative medicine often uses terms like 'natural' or 'holistic' and friendly imagery to appear less threatening than conventional medicine.
Answer: True
The marketing of alternative medicine frequently employs terms like 'natural' or 'holistic' and uses friendly, colorful imagery to present itself as less threatening or dangerous compared to conventional medicine.
Which phenomenon explains why a patient might mistakenly attribute improvement to an inert alternative treatment when their condition was at its worst?
Answer: Regression to the mean
The 'regression to the mean' phenomenon explains that a patient seeking alternative treatment when their condition is at its worst may naturally experience an improvement, which is then mistakenly attributed to the inert treatment.
Which of the following is a psychological factor contributing to the appeal of alternative medicine?
Answer: The 'will to believe' and cognitive biases
Psychological factors contributing to the appeal of alternative medicine include the 'will to believe' and cognitive biases that maintain self-esteem.
Marcia Angell and other biomedical experts argue that the distinction between 'conventional' and 'alternative' medicine is meaningful because alternative medicine has unique scientific principles.
Answer: False
Marcia Angell and other experts argue that the distinction is not meaningful, asserting that there is only medicine that has been adequately tested and proven safe and effective, and medicine that has not.
Edzard Ernst asserts that any 'alternative cancer cure' is bogus because if it showed genuine promise, mainstream oncology would adopt it, making it conventional medicine.
Answer: True
Edzard Ernst strongly asserts that any 'alternative cancer cure' is bogus by definition, arguing that if it showed genuine promise, mainstream oncology would quickly scrutinize and adopt it, making it conventional medicine.
Government-funded studies into CAM are widely praised for their scientific rigor and for not diverting resources from more fruitful scientific investigations.
Answer: False
Government-funded studies into CAM are criticized for lacking scientific rigor, being methodologically flawed, and for diverting resources from more fruitful scientific investigations, sometimes lending a false appearance of legitimacy to unproven treatments.
What did Neil deGrasse Tyson famously state about 'Alternative Medicine' that survives double-blind laboratory tests?
Answer: It becomes 'Regular Medicine'.
Neil deGrasse Tyson famously stated that 'Alternative Medicine that survives double-blind laboratory tests' becomes 'Regular Medicine,' highlighting that effective treatments, once validated, are integrated into mainstream medicine.
According to critics like Wallace Sampson and Stephen Barrett, what is a key argument against alternative medicine?
Answer: Its therapies typically lack scientific validation and are often based on non-scientific sources.
Critics like Wallace Sampson and Stephen Barrett argue against alternative medicine because its therapies typically lack scientific validation and are often based on non-scientific sources such as religion, superstition, or pseudoscience.
What is a criticism regarding the allocation of health and research resources towards investigating alternative therapies?
Answer: It diverts resources from more fruitful scientific investigations.
Research into alternative therapies is criticized for diverting research time, money, and other resources from more fruitful lines of investigation to pursue theories lacking a biological basis.