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Introduction
Why Talk?
Tips To Start Talking
We Have Materials That Can Help
CAM Resources

Introduction

Patients and their health care providers need to talk openly about all of their health care practices. This includes the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health has launched an educational campaign—Time to Talk—to encourage the discussion of CAM use. As the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on CAM, NCCAM is committed to providing objective, evidence-based CAM information to help health professionals and the public make informed health care decisions.

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Why Talk?

To ensure safe, coordinated care among all conventional and CAM therapies, it’s time to talk. Talking not only allows fully integrated care, but it also minimizes risks of interactions among a patient’s treatments. When patients tell their providers about their CAM use, they can better stay in control and more effectively manage their health. When providers ask their patients about CAM use, they can ensure that they are fully informed and can help patients make informed health care decisions.

In a nationwide Government survey, nearly 38 percent of all adults age 18 or older, and nearly 12 percent of children aged 17 years and under, use some form of CAM. Patients with chronic and acute medical conditions turn to CAM in large numbers—most frequently to treat pain (including back, neck, or joint pain; arthritis; or other musculoskeletal conditions), as well as anxiety, cholesterol, head or chest colds, and other medical conditions.¹ People also use CAM to promote health and well-being. However, many people don’t discuss their CAM use with their health care providers. Some people don’t know that they should, or say that their provider has never asked about their CAM use.²

CAM is defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. CAM includes products and practices such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic care, and acupuncture.

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Tips To Start Talking

Patient Tips for Discussing CAM With Providers

When completing patient history forms, be sure to include all therapies and treatments you use. Make a list in advance.
Tell your health care providers about all therapies or treatments—including over-the-counter and prescription medicines, as well as herbal and dietary supplements.
Take control. Don’t wait for your providers to ask about your CAM use.
If you are considering using a CAM therapy, ask your health care providers about its safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions with medications (both prescription and over-the-counter).

Provider Tips for Discussing CAM With Patients

Include a question about CAM use on medical history forms.
Ask your patients to bring a list of all the therapies they use, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal supplements and other CAM practices.
Actively distribute Time to Talk materials to patients.

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We Have Materials That Can Help

The Time to Talk materials include fact sheets for both patients and providers, explaining why it’s important to discuss CAM use, and how to start talking. There is a wallet card to help patients easily record their medical conditions and all medications, including dietary supplements and other CAM products.

All these materials are available FREE to health care providers and patients by visiting the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov/timetotalk. Or, providers may order a FREE toolkit by calling the NCCAM Clearinghouse at 1-888-644-6226.

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CAM Resources

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health
nccam.nih.gov

MedlinePlus—Complementary and Alternative Medicine
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html

MedlinePlus—Herbs and Supplements
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb_All.html

National Institutes of Health—Office of Dietary Supplements
ods.od.nih.gov/

National Cancer Institute—Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
www.cancer.gov/cam

National Institute on Aging—Age Page on Dietary Supplements
www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/ Publications/supplements.htm

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This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM.

NCCAM Publication No. D381-G

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1 Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12. 2008.

2 AARP, NCCAM. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People 50 and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians. Consumer Survey Report; January 18, 2007.