Introduction | p. 1 |
Background and objectives of HTA | p. 5 |
Background | p. 6 |
Objectives | p. 7 |
Introduction to the speciality of homeopathy - principles and definition | p. 9 |
Preface | p. 10 |
The principle of similarity or 'Law of Similars' | p. 10 |
Homeopathic pharmacology | p. 10 |
The homeopathic examination and remedy selection | p. 11 |
Medicines: their manufacture, application and mode of action | p. 11 |
The concept of disease in homeopathy and conventional medicine | p. 12 |
Indications and limitations of homeopathy | p. 13 |
Other therapies known as homeopathy | p. 13 |
Homeopathy research | p. 14 |
References | p. 14 |
Homeopathy: Research and Research Problems (preclinical and clinical) | p. 15 |
Introduction and Research Problems | p. 16 |
Preclinical Research | p. 17 |
Fundamental physico-chemical research | p. 17 |
Botanical studies | p. 18 |
Animal studies | p. 18 |
In vitro studies with human cells | p. 19 |
Conclusion: fundamental preclinical research | p. 19 |
Clinical trials | p. 19 |
Classification | p. 19 |
An outline of clinical trials | p. 20 |
Future research | p. 21 |
Summary clinical studies | p. 22 |
References | p. 22 |
General problems with clinical trials in research | p. 27 |
The Problems with Randomized Clinical Trials | p. 28 |
The Risk of Bias in Clinical Trials | p. 31 |
Problems with the Formal Evaluation of Clinical Trials in Meta-analyses | p. 39 |
References | p. 44 |
HTA Homeopathy: Methods and Material | p. 47 |
Project Implementation | p. 48 |
Methods: Systematic Literature Search | p. 49 |
Selection of data sources | p. 49 |
Data sources used | p. 49 |
Systematic literature search: general search strategy and article selection | p. 54 |
Systematic literature search for individual HTA aspects: search strategy and article selection | p. 55 |
Data Extraction and Evaluation | p. 56 |
Extraction and evaluation of data / procedure | p. 56 |
Extraction and evaluation of data | p. 57 |
Evaluation categories | p. 58 |
Data Synthesis | p. 59 |
Publications | p. 60 |
Database research 'Homeopathy' | p. 60 |
Special search: URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) | p. 62 |
Safety | p. 63 |
Cost-effectiveness | p. 63 |
References | p. 66 |
International Utilisation of Complementary Medical Approaches | p. 67 |
Introduction and Research Questions | p. 68 |
Methodology | p. 68 |
Results | p. 69 |
Outline of studies used | p. 69 |
Study design | p. 69 |
CAM definitions | p. 76 |
Profile of CAM users | p. 79 |
Frequency of CAM use | p. 79 |
Estimation of satisfaction with CAM and CAM effectiveness | p. 83 |
Reasons for using CAM | p. 85 |
Use of CAM compared with conventional medicine | p. 86 |
Discussion | p. 86 |
Conclusion | p. 87 |
References | p. 88 |
CAM Conditions and Use in Switzerland | p. 91 |
Conditions | p. 92 |
The Use of Complementary Medicine in Switzerland: Prevalence, Effectiveness, Acceptance and the Views of Patients and Physicians | p. 94 |
Introduction | p. 94 |
Methodology | p. 94 |
Results | p. 95 |
Discussion | p. 97 |
Conclusion | p. 97 |
List of study numbers (referred to in the diagrams) | p. 98 |
References | p. 98 |
Overview of Systematic Reviews on the Clinical Efficacy of Homeopathy | p. 101 |
Introduction: Systematic Reviews | p. 102 |
Literature Search | p. 102 |
Presentation of the Studies | p. 103 |
Reviews on general effectiveness | p. 103 |
Reviews on special indications: | p. 106 |
Reviews on special interventions | p. 107 |
Reviews on special indications with special intervention | p. 108 |
Evaluation of the Studies | p. 109 |
Research question | p. 109 |
Selection of studies | p. 111 |
Selection and evaluation of data/information | p. 113 |
Data synthesis | p. 114 |
Discussion and Conclusion | p. 117 |
List of Excluded Studies with Reasons for Exclusion | p. 118 |
References | p. 124 |
Clinical Studies on the Effectiveness of Homeopathy for URTI/A (Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Allergic Reactions) | p. 127 |
Selection of Indication | p. 128 |
Outcome of Literature Search | p. 128 |
Summary of Studies: Data Extraction, Internal and External Validity, Results | p. 140 |
Population, study design and implementation | p. 140 |
Intervention and control therapy | p. 141 |
Outcome | p. 147 |
Results | p. 142 |
Side effects, initial aggravation, adverse effects | p. 143 |
Discussion | p. 143 |
References | p. 156 |
Safety of Homeopathic Use | p. 159 |
Introduction | p. 160 |
Responses to Treatment | p. 160 |
Interaction of Substances | p. 161 |
Safety of Application | p. 161 |
Scientific Research | p. 161 |
Safety: Summary and Conclusion | p. 162 |
References | p. 162 |
Cost-effectiveness of Homeopathy | p. 163 |
Introduction | p. 164 |
Methods of Health Economics | p. 166 |
Use of CAM | p. 167 |
Costs | p. 168 |
Cost-effectiveness | p. 168 |
Reimbursement | p. 169 |
Data and Studies for Homeopathy | p. 169 |
Data and Projects from Switzerland | p. 171 |
NFP34 | p. 171 |
Further data from Switzerland | p. 172 |
International CAM Studies and Surveys: Patients | p. 173 |
International CAM Studies and Surveys on: Physicians/Providers | p. 174 |
Pilot Projects in Germany | p. 174 |
Discussion | p. 177 |
Methodology | p. 177 |
Cost-effectiveness of complementary medical methods . | p. 177 |
Homeopathy | p. 188 |
References | p. 189 |
Full discussion of the HTA results | p. 193 |
References | p. 203 |
Synopsis | p. 205 |
Effectiveness | p. 206 |
Reviews | p. 206 |
Studies on the Indication Upper Respiratory Tract Infection/Allergy (URTI/A) | p. 207 |
Appropriateness | p. 208 |
Estimation of Demand/Use | p. 208 |
Safety | p. 208 |
Economy | p. 208 |
Appendix | p. 211 |
Data Extraction Forms | p. 212 |
Sample questionnaires: systematic reviews and meta-analyses, also for HTA | p. 212 |
Sample questionnaires: clinical studies | p. 218 |
Sample questionnaire: demand/cost-effectiveness | p. 224 |
Abbreviations | p. 227 |
Conflict of interest | p. 230 |
Authors | p. 230 |
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