Abstract
Objective: This systematic review aimed to describe traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) use among Indigenous peoples with diabetes from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States (US).
Methods: A systematic search following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses) statement guidelines was conducted. Data were analysed using meta-aggregation.
Results: Thirteen journal articles from 12 studies across Australia, Canada and the US were included in the review (no articles from New Zealand were identified). Indigenous peoples used various types of TCIM alongside conventional treatment for diabetes, particularly when conventional treatment did not meet Indigenous peoples’ holistic understandings of wellness. TCIM provided opportunities to practice important cultural and spiritual activities. While TCIM was often viewed as an effective treatment through bringing balance to the body, definitions of treatments that comprise safe and effective TCIM use were lacking in the articles.
Conclusions: The concurrent use of TCIM and conventional treatments is common among Indigenous peoples with diabetes, but clear definitions of safe and effective TCIM use are lacking.
Implications for public health: Healthcare providers should support Indigenous peoples to safely and effectively treat diabetes with TCIM alongside conventional treatment.
Methods: A systematic search following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses) statement guidelines was conducted. Data were analysed using meta-aggregation.
Results: Thirteen journal articles from 12 studies across Australia, Canada and the US were included in the review (no articles from New Zealand were identified). Indigenous peoples used various types of TCIM alongside conventional treatment for diabetes, particularly when conventional treatment did not meet Indigenous peoples’ holistic understandings of wellness. TCIM provided opportunities to practice important cultural and spiritual activities. While TCIM was often viewed as an effective treatment through bringing balance to the body, definitions of treatments that comprise safe and effective TCIM use were lacking in the articles.
Conclusions: The concurrent use of TCIM and conventional treatments is common among Indigenous peoples with diabetes, but clear definitions of safe and effective TCIM use are lacking.
Implications for public health: Healthcare providers should support Indigenous peoples to safely and effectively treat diabetes with TCIM alongside conventional treatment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 664-671 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 24 May 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by the NHMRC‐funded Centre of Research Excellence in Targeted Approaches to Improve Cancer Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (TACTICS; #1153027), the NHMRC‐funded Centre of Research Excellence DISCOVER‐TT (#1041111), and the Cancer Council NSW STREP Ca‐CIndA (SRP 13‐01; with supplementary funding from Cancer Council WA). TB was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award (#IN190100050) funded by the Australian Government. GG was supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (#1176651). We also acknowledge the ongoing support of the Lowitja Institute, Australia's National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agencies.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
