Integrative Medicine Research最新文献

{"title":"Exploring traditional Chinese medicine tongue diagnosis in potential cancer identification: A scoping review","authors":"Maria Benxia Wu ,&nbsp;Yong-Kang Wu ,&nbsp;Meng-Hua Chen ,&nbsp;Benjamin Kimble ,&nbsp;Brian May ,&nbsp;Vincent Chan ,&nbsp;Stella Stylianou ,&nbsp;Bin Xu ,&nbsp;Daniel Man-yuen Sze ,&nbsp;Zhen Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis entails the systematic evaluation of morphological characteristics (tongue features) on both dorsal and ventral tongue surfaces. Recent advancements in research have highlighted the potential diagnostic relevance of specific tongue features for cancer detection and monitoring through various inspection methodologies. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tongue features investigated in relation to cancer detection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A literature search for clinical studies (excluding case reports) that examined the application of tongue inspection for detecting cancer, recurrence, or metastasis was conducted. Extracted data included study characteristics, patient populations, inspection techniques, and diagnostic outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-four studies consisting of 14 case-control studies, 4 cross sectional studies, 5 observational study, and 1 prospective multicentred cohort were identified, involving a total of 5458 cancer patients and 7880 control participants. Documented tongue features included lingual flange protrusion, sublingual nodules, engorged sublingual veins, purple-bluish tongue, and variations in tongue coating thickness, etc. that were associated with different cancer types and metastasis. Using QUADAS-2, the overall quality was low with potentially high risk of bias in some key domains, especially participant selection and index test.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings from this review provide a foundation for future research questions aimed at high-level observational studies. Tongue inspection holds promise as a cost-effective, time-efficient, and non-invasive method for detecting cancers and metastasis. Based on quality assessment, the study highlights future needs such as more prospective, blinded interpretation, pre-specified thresholds, and transparent reporting to improve both methodological rigor and external validity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for acute pain in the emergency department","authors":"Arya Nielsen ,&nbsp;Natalie L. Dyer ,&nbsp;Kiran Faryar ,&nbsp;Jeffery A. Dusek","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acupuncture has been used for millennia to treat pain and in recent decades included as an evidence-based strategy for comprehensive pain care. More recently, acupuncture has also been used to treat acute peri‑operative pain and acute pain in the Emergency department (ED). While there are models of acupuncture’s effect on chronic pain, the lack of application of those models for acute pain represents a gap in our scientific understanding.</div><div>Acupuncture in the ED is a single-session dose intervention. In the context of clarifying significant details of an acupuncture intervention including needle insertion, needle perturbation (to obtain de qi), and needle retention, point specificity, adequate dose using local and distal acupoints, and functional MRI (fMRI) brain studies of acupuncture treatment for pain, a body and auricular model of acupuncture’s specific effects in acute pain reduction is presented. The biomechanisms of body acupuncture are shown to be an interaction between local physiological responses at a needling site and peripheral and central analgesic responses. An auricular model conceptualizes how stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve also modulates autonomic and central nervous systems. Nonspecific effects of acupuncture are also discussed.</div><div>The purpose of this review is to illustrate the biomechanisms of acupuncture for acute pain as a complex intervention that integrates patterns of change at physiological and molecular levels that can inform existing and future effectiveness research and facilitate assimilation of acupuncture in the ED.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of herbal medicine Xiao-Feng-San combined with auricular acupuncture for atopic dermatitis: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Nga Thu Tran ,&nbsp;An Hoa Tran ,&nbsp;Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with a considerable burden. Xiao-Feng-San (XFS) has been widely used in traditional medicine for the wind-dampness-heat pattern. Auricular acupuncture (AA) may relieve AD symptoms, but its added benefit with XFS is unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial, 156 adults with non-severe AD and wind-dampness-heat pattern, all of whom were prescribed XFS decoction, were additionally assigned to receive either AA (XFS plus AA group, n=78) or sham AA (XFS plus Sham AA group, n=78) for four weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the SCORAD index from baseline to week 4. Secondary outcomes included fexofenadine use, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), serum total IgE, and adverse events.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared with the XFS plus sham AA, the XFS plus AA group showed a significantly greater reduction in SCORAD at week 4 (mean difference [MD] −9.1; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001), exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. DLQI also improved more in the XFS plus AA group (MD −1.8; <em>p</em> = 0.0362). Fexofenadine use was lower in this group, though not significantly; no significant differences in serum total IgE were found. Adverse events were mild and transient.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Adding AA to XFS enhanced clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with non-severe AD, with a favorable safety profile. These findings support AA as a promising adjunctive therapy in integrative approaches for AD. Further studies should validate these results across broader populations, with post-intervention follow-up, and diverse traditional medicine regimens.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration information</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06492902).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145195762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unmeasured corticosteroid burden may mask safety signals in herbal medicine users: A call for dosage adjustment","authors":"Mengjiao Li ,&nbsp;Chenyu Lu ,&nbsp;Qiang Zhan","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Concurrent Chinese and Western medication use and risk of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A national cohort study","authors":"Ming-Chia Lee ,&nbsp;Chih-Yuan Wu ,&nbsp;Shih-Ming Chen ,&nbsp;Ya-Hui Chang ,&nbsp;Tzu-Rong Peng ,&nbsp;Jin-Hua Chen ,&nbsp;Shoko Satake ,&nbsp;Jen-Ai Lee ,&nbsp;Chih-Hsin Lee ,&nbsp;Jann-Yuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study examined whether concurrent use of Chinese medications (CMs) and Western medications (WMs) was associated with a reduced risk of acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2003–2019), we identified patients aged ≥40 years with COPD receiving specific medications. CM users were matched with nonusers using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was the occurrence of moderate or severe AE within 730 days. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate AE risks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 86,510 CM users were matched with 346,034 nonusers. The incidence of AE was lower in the CM users (9.7%) than in the nonusers (10.7%) as was the incidence of severe AE (2.78% vs. 3.79%). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly lower risks of AE in the CM users (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). In multivariate models, CM use was consistently associated with a reduced risk of AE (adjusted hazard ratios: 0.76 to 0.91). Subgroup analyses confirmed these benefits across all subgroups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Concurrent CM–WM use is associated with a decreased risk of AE in patients with COPD. Integrating CM into conventional management may offer clinical benefits, though further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 2","pages":"Article 101286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traditional Korean and Western medicine use after industrial accidents: A hurdle model analysis","authors":"Sungmin Park ,&nbsp;Bo-Hyoung Jang","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The number of injured workers using Traditional Korean Medicine (KM) soared from 752 in 2013 to 10,273 in 2023, yet this trend remains underexplored. This cross-sectional study examined the frequency and factors linked to KM and Western Medicine (WM) use among injured workers.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from 6,985 participants in the 2018 and 2023 waves of the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance (PSWCI) were analyzed. A hurdle model assessed outpatient visits: logistic regression for the probability of use and negative binomial regression for visit intensity. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors were included as covariates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 6,985 participants, 182 used KM, 5,970 used WM, and 833 reported no outpatient visits. Having private medical insurance and lower limb injuries showed higher Total Marginal Effects (TME) of both KM and WM utilization. KM use showed higher TMEs among females and those with occupational diseases but lower TMEs for injuries to other body regions. Higher WM utilization was linked to workers with disabilities, hypertension, chronic conditions, and extended rehabilitation, while the 2023 cohort, higher education and income, alcohol consumption, and re-employment were linked to lower WM use.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Between 2018 and 2023, adjusted KM utilization remained unchanged, whereas WM visits declined. KM use was positively linked to being female and having occupational diseases. WM visits tended to rise with greater medical severity yet decreased as socioeconomic conditions improved. Still, the rise in total KM claims under WCI indicates a growing demand for conservative, pain-relieving musculoskeletal care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101202"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Guided and motor imagery for pain management and functional recovery after arthroplasty of the hip or knee: A pragmatic prospective mixed-methods study","authors":"Herman A. van Wietmarschen ,&nbsp;Martine Busch ,&nbsp;Miek C. Jong","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Athroplastic surgery often results in acute post-operative pain, hindering rehabilitation compliance. To improve pain management and functional recovery, guided and motor imagery (GMI) exercises were introduced in hip and knee arthroplasty.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A pragmatic prospective mixed-methods implementation evaluation was conducted at the orthopaedic department of Schakelring, the Netherlands. 80 subjects underwent a 4-week rehabilitation program including GMI after knee or hip arthroplasty. Outcomes included self-reported pain, Timed Up &amp; Go test, 10-meter walk test, and medication use compared with a historical control group. A process evaluation was based on 6 meeting reports, a focus group and 8 interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Last measured pain scores were significantly lower in the GMI group compared to control (<em>p</em> = 0,030, Standard Mean Difference (SMD) = 0,87). Pain scores reduced over time in the GMI knee group compared to control (<em>p</em> = 0,015, SMD = 1,15), not in the hip group (<em>p</em> = 0,39, SMD = 0,43). Better Timed Up &amp; Go and 10-meter walk test in GMI knee group versus control at the end of the 4 week rehabilitation period (<em>p</em> = 0,006 and <em>p</em> = 0,027). Thematic analysis of meetings, focus group and interviews resulted in the following critical themes for implementation were: individual adaptation, embedding in the rehabilitation program, motivation and attitudes of staff, perceived support, monitoring of outcome and creating a learning history, perceived effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Monitoring and evaluating the implementation process and positive clinical results facilitated the implementation of GMI in the rehabilitation setting in the Netherlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101230"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144913656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacopuncture for patients with psychological stress caused by traffic accidents: A pragmatic randomized controlled pilot trial","authors":"Ja-Yean Son ,&nbsp;Seol Jung ,&nbsp;Young-Hoon Lee ,&nbsp;Dong-Gyu Kim ,&nbsp;Joon-Woo Kim ,&nbsp;Tae-Jun Lee ,&nbsp;Sung-Hwan Cho ,&nbsp;Jeong-Hyo Ji ,&nbsp;Hyun-Woo Cho ,&nbsp;Sang-Don Kim ,&nbsp;Yoon Jae Lee ,&nbsp;In-Hyuk Ha ,&nbsp;Doori Kim ,&nbsp;Byung-Cheul Shin","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The effectiveness and safety of stress-focused pharmacopuncture in patients experiencing psychological stress following a traffic accident remain unclear. We aimed to conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for these patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 50 patients were included in this randomized controlled pilot trial. Inpatients who scored ≥8 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) or Depression (HADS-D) subscales following a traffic accident were randomized to receive either integrative Korean medicine (IKM) treatment alone (comparison group) or IKM treatment combined with stress-focused pharmacopuncture (pharmacopuncture group). The primary outcomes were the changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, HADS total score (HADS-T), HADS-A, and HADS-D, from baseline to discharge. Secondary outcomes included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for anxiety, depression, and physical pain; the Korean version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-K); the Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K); the EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D); and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) score.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to the comparison group, the pharmacopuncture group showed statistically significant improvements in the HADS-T (difference: 2.30, 95 % CI 0.53 to 4.07), HADS-A (difference: 1.09, 95 % CI 0.17 to 2.02), HADS-D (difference: 1.25, 95 % CI 0.25 to 2.25), NRS of anxiety (difference: 0.85, 95 % CI 0.10 to 1.59), and PGIC (difference: 0.52, 95 % CI 0.07 to 0.97) at the primary endpoint. No serious adverse events were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Stress-focused pharmacopuncture may alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms and potentially accelerate recovery after traffic accidents.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06107777.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101251"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of combining pharmacopuncture therapy and acupotomy for treating patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial","authors":"Jihun Kim ,&nbsp;Chang-Hyun Han ,&nbsp;Taewook Lee ,&nbsp;Sookwang An ,&nbsp;Changsop Yang ,&nbsp;Young Eun Choi ,&nbsp;Byoung-Kab Kang ,&nbsp;Yoona Oh ,&nbsp;Kun Hyung Kim ,&nbsp;Gi Young Yang ,&nbsp;Eunseok Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In the clinical practice of Korean Medicine, pharmacopuncture therapy and acupotomy (PA) are being increasingly explored as potential treatment options for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining PA with conventional Korean Medicine treatment (CKMT) in patients with degenerative LSS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 participants aged 40–75 years diagnosed with degenerative LSS. The participants were randomly assigned to either the CKMT+PA or CKMT alone groups over a 6-week period. The primary outcome was the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain/discomfort. Secondary outcomes included clinically important differences (CID), Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, self-reported maximum walking distance, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire, and patients’ global impression of change. The adverse events (AEs) were assessed at each visit.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The CKMT+PA group showed significant improvements in VAS scores compared to the CKMT group at 6 weeks (adjusted mean difference: 20.26; 95 % confidence interval: 13.79–26.72, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001), and a higher proportion of patients in the CKMT+PA group achieved the minimal CID in pain reduction. These improvements persisted at weeks 10 and 14. Superior results were also observed with respect to secondary outcomes in the CKMT+PA group compared to the CKMT group across all time points. CKMT showed no AEs, while mild AEs occurred in 1.7 % of bee venom and 2.2 % of acupotomy sessions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Compared to CKMT alone, CKMT+PA offers significant improvements in pain relief, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with degenerative LSS.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) registry, KCT0008557.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101204"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating uncertainty in evidence-informed decision-making for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine: An updated critical interpretive review","authors":"Jennifer Hunter ,&nbsp;Matthew Leach ,&nbsp;Dennis Chang ,&nbsp;Myeong Soo Lee ,&nbsp;Yutong Fei ,&nbsp;Jianping Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) presents unique challenges for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM). To aid decision-making, a critical interpretive review was updated to examine how internationally and nationally endorsed consensus statements on guideline development and policy briefs, along with TCIM-specific recommendations may address these challenges.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The review drew on critical interpretive synthesis and rapid review methods. PubMed, CINAHL and AIMED were searched on 19 January 2024. Single reviewers conducted the screening and extracted descriptive data. Analysis began deductively from the original review themes and developed iteratively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Included were 167 publications. Over the past decade, evidence-to-decision (EtD) frameworks have considered a broader range of modifying factors (e.g., importance of the problem, stakeholder preferences, feasibility, costs, health equity, human rights, social impacts) that may warrant making a stronger recommendation despite lower certainty evidence, and vice versa. Additional strategies proposed by TCIM guideline developers included systematically incorporating multiple evidence sources and developing TCIM extensions for reporting guidelines. Four interrelated themes affirmed the importance of 1) transparent and inclusive decision-making, 2) ensuring the scope and framing of the problem are sensitive to TCIM contexts, 3) using diverse types of evidence in EtD frameworks and when there is evidence uncertainty, and 4) centering equity, including epistemic equity, throughout the EIDM process.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Advancing EIDM methodologies specifically for TCIM guideline development and policy can help decision-makers navigate evidence uncertainty to support the appropriate integration of TCIM into global health systems.</div></div><div><h3>Protocol registration</h3><div>International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols: INPLASY202510066.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101231"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}