Exploring Pain Researcher and Clinician Perceptions of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine: A Large-Scale, International Cross-Sectional Survey

Background

Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) is gaining popularity among patients experiencing pain, alongside traditional treatments. This study aimed to explore the views of pain clinicians and researchers on CAIM interventions.

Methods

An anonymous, online survey was distributed to 46 223 authors who had published pain-related research in MEDLINE-indexed journals. The survey included multiple-choice questions and open-ended sections to gather detailed opinions.

Results

A total of 1024 participants responded, most identifying as either pain researchers (43.59%) or both researchers and clinicians (39.88%). Many held senior positions (61.55%). Among the CAIM modalities, mind-body therapies such as meditation, yoga, and biofeedback were viewed as the most promising for pain prevention, treatment, and management, with 68.47% of participants endorsing these approaches. While a majority (43.89%) believed that most CAIM therapies are safe, only 25.55% expressed confidence in their effectiveness. There was broad agreement on the need for more research into CAIM therapies, with 45.88% agreeing and 42.53% strongly agreeing that further investigation is valuable.

Additionally, many respondents supported the inclusion of CAIM training in clinician education, either through formal programs (46.40%) or supplementary courses (52.71%). Mind-body therapies received the most positive feedback, while biofield therapies were met with the most skepticism.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the interest in CAIM among pain specialists and emphasize the need for more research and education tailored to this area.