branum mla 2012

"Alternative" Research Education in a Post-R25 World:

Candise Branum, MLSCollege Librarian, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Assessing AOM Student Attitudes Towards Research

& the Scientific Method

Research Education Grants (R25)

R25 Grants to CAM Schools

· Develop research literacy · Enhance research appreciation· View research as a bridge between CAM and

conventional medicine· Award a limited number of grants to create

Research Education programs for dissemination to other CAM colleges

Goals of

Research Literacy

Research Participation

Research Culture

2006 Survey

· 2006 joint study from OCOM / NESA of attitudes and interests of AOM students towards research and the scientific method

· Students’ interest in research was found to decline with time in school

In the six years since introducing a culture of research into the campus and into the curricula, has this trend changed?

2012 SURVEY

2012 Survey

· 10 nationally accredited AOM schools in the United States

· Mix of schools with and without dedicated research programs· Schools WITH research departments were much more

likely to respond to our survey request· Ended with 6…

2012 Survey Goals

· Broad look at how acupuncture students view research and its associated methods

· Is there a difference between 1st and 3rd year students’ attitudes?

· Any correlation between high levels of interest and the presence of a research department?

Recognition of the Culture

· “Acupuncture has been practiced successfully for several thousand years. Why do we need research?”

· Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) is an alternative medicine. Practitioners may feel antagonistic or wary of western medicine.

· RCTs (the "gold standard" of research) do not always adequately measure AOM results

Demographics

· Over half the respondents were 18-45 years old;

· Almost 75% female;· Well distributed over

the class years.

Question: Do students recognize the benefits of AOM research?Answer: Yes

SURVEY RESULTS

Overall Results

Feelings about research

AOM research affects public opinion

Wants to participate in research

Wants to learn more about AOM research

Wants to stay informed of latest research

Believes clinical studies affect insurance coverage

0% 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Neutral / No OpinionDisagrees / Negative ViewAgrees / Positive View

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Overall trends 2006Overall trends 2012

OCOM Survey Results

1Wayne, Hammerschlag et al. Explore 2010;6:22-28.

% o

f res

pond

ents

who

agr

ee

Overall Response to “Incompatibility of the Scientific Method with AOM Principles”

Agree

Disagree

Not Sure / No Opinion

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Question: Does it make a difference?Answer: “Not Sure”

PRESENCE OF RESEARCH PROGRAM

The Scientific Method

Unsure

Disagree

Agree

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

No Research ProgramResearch Program

Feelings About Research

Research Program No Research Program0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

PositiveNegativeNeutral / Not Sure

Question: Do rates of interest decrease over time in the program?Answer: Unfortunately… yep

TRACKING ATTITUDES OVER TIME

Feelings About Research

1st year 2nd year 3rd year or more0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

OCOM All Schools Combined

Pos

itive

Fee

lings

OCOM Survey Results

1st year

2nd year

3rd year or

more

1st y

ear

2nd y

ear

3rd ye

ar or

more

1st year

2nd year

3rd year or more

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1st y

ear

2nd y

ear

3rd ye

ar or

more

1st y

ear

2nd y

ear

3rd ye

ar or

more

1st y

ear

2nd y

ear

3rd ye

ar or

more

20062012

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6

Q1: Interest in learning about researchQ2: Interest in research participationQ3: Importance of research for public perception of AOMQ4: Importance of research for insurance reimbursementQ5: Importance in following clinical researchQ6: Scientific method is inconsistent with AOM principles

1Wayne, Hammerschlag et al. Explore 2010;6:22-28.

% o

f res

pond

ents

who

agr

ee

Conclusions

· Positive feelings about research decline drastically as students progress in the program· This aligns with the results from the 2006 study

· Students see the benefits of research and believe it is important to their profession, but that doesn’t mean they like it

Conclusions

· Comments indicate a distrust of the western biomedical system and a distrust of big business and pharmaceutical companies

· Alternative ways of measuring results?· Critical thinking about research bias, sometimes

too critical

Feel free to contact me with any questions:

Candise Branumcbranum@ocom.edu

THANKS!!