Complementary & Alternative Therapies

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the philosophies, practitioners, techniques, uses, current paradigm and evidence of efficacy in the complementary and alternative therapies currently being used in the United States. Evidence to guide practice will derive from a variety of sources including case studies, clinical trials, observational studies and meta-analyses. The use of different types of evidence to demonstrate efficacy versus effectiveness will be distinguished and examined. A comparison of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various forms of data will also be incorporated. A large growing percentage of Americans use complementary and alternative therapies for prevention purposes, as a supplement to conventional care or as the primary source of mental health wellness. How complementary & alternative therapies can be integrated into conventional care plans requires an ability to understand and communicate their efficacy and effectiveness with other health care providers and consumers. New and emerging approaches to generate evidence that these therapies may enhance consumers' health, functioning, safety and optimize a health care plan will be explored in depth.

Code

SW 723

Credits

3

Subject

SW

Programs That Include This Course

• Doctoral Doctor of Social Work