SOCQ121. Session 1. An Introduction to Understanding Research. Department of Social Science. endeavour.edu.au

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1 SOCQ121 Session 1 An Introduction to Understanding Research Department of Social Science endeavour.edu.au

2 Subject Overview This subject covers what you as a student and future practitioner need to know to source and critically read research articles. In this subject you will learn to: o recognise traditional and evidence based perspectives on health and wellness o understand research processes, methods and different approaches to research o critically evaluate research sources Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 2

3 Assessments Discussion Forums (weeks 2-11) Assignment 1: Short Answer Assignment 2: Database Search and Literature Retrieval Assignment 3: Literature Review Assignment 4: Presentation of Findings Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 3

4 Session Objectives o Introduction to the subject o History of healing traditions and traditional sources o Changes in Diseases Types Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 4

5 Introduction Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 5

6 Knowledge o What is knowledge? o Different ways of knowing, or belief systems in different periods of history o Ideas and laws about health and wellness have been based on: o Religion o Superstition o Tradition o Empiricism observation o Scientific Evidence Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 6

7 But what do we know? Truth/truths Image source: RmIMlixvY/s1600/elephant.png Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 7

8 Empiricism o from the ancient Greek word empeiria, experience. o Simply put it means we believe in what we can see or experience: this is foundational in both traditional and scientific knowledge However, we need to be aware that we can t simply believe in what we see! We need to find ways to test and understand what we see. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 8

9 Is the Internet a right source? As we progress through this subject please take note of the following: o The internet is an excellent resource for research, however it is important to be critical about the source. I.e. Wikipedia can be updated by anyone, not all articles are well researched. This is not appropriate academic source! o When sourcing information take care to note the author, publication date, title, publisher & link - so you can find it again Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 9

10 Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Sources Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 10

11 Traditional Knowledge Both traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge inform complementary medicine Our knowledge about health and wellness comes from a wide variety of sources some modern and some ancient Understandings developed many thousands of years ago may still have relevancy today In Australia today to be considered legitimate knowledge must have been in use for 3 generations or over 75 years Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 11

12 Traditional Knowledge o A broad term referring to knowledge systems, encompasses a wide variety of areas o Held by traditional groups or communities o Knowledge acquired in a non-systemic way o Traditional knowledge systems have been utilised successfully over long periods of time o They have significance and relevance not only to the holders of the information but also to the rest of the humanity Download many free books- National College of Natural Medicine (Scotland): Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 12

13 Traditional Herbal Knowledge 60,000 BC o First documented evidence in Iraq o It is likely that: plants that produced a feeling of well-being were used by early man specific roots and barks aided digestion after feasting, certain soft, green plants were known to condition the stomach for the intake of food after prolonged fasting. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 13

14 Traditional Aboriginal Knowledge Australian Bush Food and Traditional Aboriginal medicines in the Northern Territory of Australia. Interest in this field and available publications are relatively recent. The knowledge is thought to date from 50,000 years or more ago Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 14

15 Nutritional Medicine Traditional Knowledge (5000BC) o The earliest recorded evidence of food used in healing was in Egyptian pictographs from 5000BC o The term macrobiotic means long life in Greek and was first noted by Hippocrates to describe healthy and longlived people and to describe a life-style that is concerned about a simple balanced diet. o In 1747, James Lind discovered the link between oranges and lemons and the prevention of scurvy which helped develop an interest in the science of nutrition. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 15

16 Nutritional Medicine Traditional Knowledge Dr Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler ( ) An Abridged Therapy Based on Physiology and Cellular Pathology (1874) Schuessler's system of treatment is called Biochemic Therapy Image source: Viewed 15/ 2/14 Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 16

17 Nutritional Medicine Traditional Knowledge Schuessler s work was based on the investigations of two researchers: Dr. Rudolf Virchow who researched the functioning of cells and Jacob Moleschott who discovered the importance of mineral salts for the functioning of the body. "Restoration of the cell, and thereby of the body, will result from restoration of the deficit of the inorganic salts." Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 17

18 Traditional Naturopathic Knowledge Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 The report said: "Unlike many drugs, the role of herbal dietary supplements is to enhance the diet by adding safe and natural plants and their constituents to support and protect bodily functions and processes. Containing combinations of numerous naturallyoccurring plant chemicals, herbs generally act in a wider, more general, less specific way than most single-ingredient pharmaceutical drugs. Their actions are more gentle' than conventional medicines and work usually in more long-term situations." (U.S. Senate, 1994.) Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 18

19 Activity Discuss the fragment of Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act on herbal supplements (previous slide). o What does the Act say? o Do you agree/disagree that they are more gentle? o Do they generally work in a more long term way? Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 19

20 Traditional Chinese Medicine Knowledge (2000BC) o Yellow Emperor Inner Classic: a Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental source for Chinese medicine for more than two millennia. o Comparable in importance to the Hippocratic Corpus in Greek medicine (Hippocrates) o The work is composed in a question-and-answer format between the Yellow Emperor and six of his ministers. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 20

21 Historical Period 1500 BC o The Bible Leviticus possibly the first written health code in the world o King of Babylon Code of Hammurabi one of the earliest known sets of rules or laws about public health o Codex Ebers - The Egyptian Codex Ebers, also called the Ebers Papyrus, is the oldest preserved medical document dating from about 1552 B.C. It is one of the most complete records of Egyptian medicine containing 700 formulas for a range of diseases Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 21

22 Historical Period 500 BC-500 AD o Hippocrates Founder of Western Medicine. Freed medicine from beliefs based on magic, and superstition. Greek culture, included hospitals, aqueducts and drains. o The Charaka Samhita is believed to have arisen around BC. It is felt to be one of the oldest and the most important ancient authoritative writings on Ayurveda You can find it here: Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 22

23 The Middle Ages AD o The Middle Ages / The Dark Ages Illness attributed to sin/spiritual causes/ superstition Illness seen to be the fault of the individual Bloodletting and alchemy Epidemics including the black Plague (1348) Image source: Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 23

24 The Renaissance o The Renaissance o Revolution in technology o Rebirth of thinking about nature and humans o Eye glasses one of most important advances o World exploration leading to exposure to different ideas about health and healing Image source: Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 24

25 Traditional Homeopathic Knowledge Samuel Hahnemann founder of Homeopathy ( ). German physician who earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1779 at the beginning of an era characterised by industrial, technical and social revolution. Scientific advances were beginning to be seen in the fields of chemistry, physics, physiology and anatomy. The clinical practice of medicine, however, was rife with superstition and lack of scientific rigor. Hahnemann recognized this and wrote several papers on topics such as Arsenic poisoning, hygiene, dietetics and psychiatric treatment. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 25

26 Traditional Homeopathic Knowledge Today this principal is known as the "Law of Similars" and is the basis for the use of the term homeopathy ("similar suffering"). o Key Texts: Materia Medica Pura encyclopedia of materials which may be used to prepare homeopathic medicines The Organon of Medicine The doctrine of Hahnemann s ideas about homeopathy Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 26

27 Musculoskeletal Medicine Traditional Knowledge The techniques were originally devised and described by Fred Mitchell Mitchell s technique was known as muscle energy treatment (MET) Mitchell credits TJ Ruddy s osteopathic rhythmic resistive duction therapy as a major source of inspiration Leon Chaitow s book Muscle Energy Techniques outlines works of Ruddy & Mitchell Image source: Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 27

28 Historical Period s o Increasing industrialisation o Advances in understandings of health and medicine o Many medicinal compounds isolated from plants for the first time- Morphine, opium, quinine, cocaine o Herbal, chemical, and mineral remedies material medica becomes a laboratory science of pharmacology. o Link between environment and health acknowledged sewers and drains become part of public health initiatives Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 28

29 Historical Period 1900s Mid century post war welfare states emerge Lifespans lengthen Changes in diseases, understandings, and language used Through the century there is a shift from institutionalisation and lifestyle cures to community care and chemical interventions Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 29

30 When researching traditional knowledge it is important to be aware of how knowledge and language have changed! Apoplexy, a syndrome of fainting spells that might mean stroke, seizure, or syncope today, was understood to arise from a nervous sympathy. Doctors agreed that even a near miss by a cannonball without contact could shatter bones, blind people, or even kill them.. Reports of spontaneous combustion, especially of brandydrinking men and women, received serious, if sceptical, consideration. Jones, D.S., Podolsky, S.H. & Greene, J.A. (2012). The Burden of Disease and the Changing Task of Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 21(366), pp , doi: /NEJMp Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 30

31 Changes in Disease Types Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 31

32 Changes in Disease Types It is important to remember that a variety of social, economic, environmental and political factors influence our understandings of disease and response. New Causes, motor vehicle accidents, radiation poisoning New Behaviours smoking, drug use Consequences of new therapies open heart surgeries leading to increased frequency of other age related conditions Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 32

33 Changes in Disease Types Changing environmental and social conditions can increase prevalence of previously obscure diseases New diagnostic technologies uncovering previously undiagnosed conditions Drugs change the nature of disease, penicillin the wonder drug of the early 20th century by the 21st century resistance to antibiotics is a problem Changing social mores changing what is considered a disease e.g. homosexuality, masturbation Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 33

34 The Changing Nature of Disease Source: Jones, D.S., Podolsky, S.H. & Greene, J.A. (2012). The Burden of Disease and the Changing Task of Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 21(366), pp , doi: /NEJMp Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 34

35 2000 s Rapid and radical technological advancement Increasing patient-empowering, informationleveraging technologies, smartphones (however currently there is a need for apps that present evidencebased guidelines allowing patients to properly manage their conditions). A shift from physician-centric medication (biomedical model) to patient-centric medication (patient empowerment model of care) Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 35

36 2000s Obesity epidemic means increases in chronic conditions: cardio vascular disease asthma, diabetes 7th leading cause of death in Australia and growing at 7% per year health care costs Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 36

37 2000 s Aging population means changes in the demographic ratio of working to non-working increasing pressure on health care system increasing price sensitivity untreated chronic conditions may see decline in life span in the developed world Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 37

38 Next session we cover: Next Session o Traditional use and evidence o The scientific method o David Sackett the evolution of evidence based medicine (EBM) Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 38

39 For next week please read Chapter 1: Why read papers at all? of the textbook: Greenhalgh,T. (2014). How to read a paper: The basics of evidence based medicine (5th ed.). Chichester, England: Wiley Blackwell BMJ Books. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 39

40 Discussion Forum question session 2 Please post your answers in discussions forum for session 2 on LMS. Due date for this post is pm on Sunday following session 2. o Pick one of the periods in history that has been mentioned in this session. o Describe one health related discovery or innovation from this period that you find especially interesting or important. o Justify your choice. Endeavour College of Natural Health endeavour.edu.au 40

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