Featured research projects
Our team leads an extensive range of national and international research that subject TCIM practice and use to rigorous research methods and critical perspectives in order to provide a broad evidence-base for patient care and health policy. Our extensive research program built upon transdisciplinary and multi-sector partnerships and collaborations houses many research projects. A number are outlined below.
Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) Project
The ACORN project will provide a broad evidence-based assessment of a range of issues around chiropractic practice and use in Australia that will be of direct benefit to patients, health care providers and policymakers.
The ACORN project produces extensive, quality research output, fosters partnerships and collaborations across the chiropractic research and practice community, and develops national chiropractic research capacity. This sustainable, national research resource facilitates a closer relationship between research output and the needs of chiropractors and future patients.
The coordinated platform evidence that ACORN delivers will contextualise and strengthen the impact of clinically-focused investigations, and bridge the gap between findings from clinical trials and other related designs and the realities of practitioners’ everyday care.
Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION) Project
ORION will bridge the gap between research and osteopathy practitioners and shed light on the day-to-day practice of osteopathy in Australia.
Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) Project
PRACI is the largest national practice-based research network for complementary healthcare practitioners in the world.
An analysis of massage therapy
A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of massage therapy intended to inform policy.
PRACI PBRN
PRACI is the largest national practice-based research network for complementary healthcare practitioners in the world. It is arguably the most important complementary medicine research infrastructure in Australia and supports practitioners in being about to work alongside researchers to build the evidence base for the complementary medicine professions.
Osteopathy Research and Innovation (ORION) PBRN
The Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION) Project is the world-first national practice-based research network (PBRN) focused exclusively upon osteopathy. With generous financial support from Osteopathy Australia (OA), ORION is designed and independently conducted by UTS:ARCCIM.
CAMUHLD
CAMHULD is the Complementary Medicine Use, Health Literacy and Disclosure Project which examines key aspects of Australian’s use of TCIM and their wider health and health care utilisation. The project draws upon a nationally representative sample of over 2,000 Australians and is in its second edition. It was founded at ARCCIM in 2017 and has produced a wealth of outputs to date.
Collaborative Australian Physiotherapy Research Initiative (CAPRI)
A collaborative practice-based research network between researchers, clinicians and patients, the CAPRI initiative enables, facilitates and coordinates high quality practice-based, patient relevant research, with effective engagement of the physiotherapy community.
More research projects
Increasing maternal and childhood vaccine uptake: managing the challenge and opportunity of complementary medicine practitioners
Certain geographical areas with lower rates of vaccination pose considerable concern. Complementary medicine practitioners are often visited by vaccine-hesitant parents and are influential in their decisions about vaccination. This research provides the first examination of complementary medicine practitioner beliefs and practices regarding vaccination. Resources will be developed to help manage conversations between complementary medicine practitioners and vaccine-hesitant parents.
Funding: NHMRC Early Career Fellowship
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jane Frawley
Conversations between complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and vaccine-hesitant parents: A qualitative study
How do interactions with complementary medicine (CM) providers influence vaccination behaviours in traditionally vaccine-hesitant communities?
Funding: Nepean Blue Mountains PHN
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jane Frawley, Prof Jon Adams
Exploration of vaccine-hesitant parents’ beliefs, information seeking and intentions
The aim of this project is to determine the attitudes, concerns, information needs and intentions of vaccine-hesitant parents in relation to childhood vaccination.
Funding: UTS Early Career Research Grants Scheme
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jane Frawley
Examining complementary medicine informal healthcare use for depression and anxiety in older adults
Funding: University of Technology Sydney (CPDRF Scheme)
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Romy Lauche
Recommendations for the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the prevention of stroke: a synthesis and communication of evidence to key stakeholders
Funding: Nancy and Vic Allen Stroke Prevention Fund
UTS Staff Involved: Prof David Sibbritt, Prof Jon Adams, Dr Caleb Ferguson, Dr Jane Frawley, Dr Romy Lauche and Dr Wenbo Peng
Recommendations for the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the prevention of stroke: a synthesis and communication of evidence to key stakeholders
Funding: Nancy and Vic Allen Stroke Prevention Fund
UTS Staff Involved: Prof David Sibbritt, Prof Jon Adams, Dr Caleb Ferguson, Dr Jane Frawley, Dr Romy Lauche and Dr Wenbo Peng
Examining complementary medicine practitioners’ approaches to weight loss
A substantial proportion of people with overweight and obesity who want to lose weight consult complementary medicine (CM) practitioners for weight loss advice or assistance, yet almost nothing is known about how CM practitioners approach weight loss in clinical practice. This study will combine an online survey and qualitative interviews to examine CM practitioners’ weight loss approaches used by CM practitioners to provide a better understanding of the role of CM for weight loss in contemporary health care, and lay a foundation for future research evaluating efficacy and safety of those interventions that can benefit patients with overweight and obesity.
Funding: Endeavour College of Natural Health
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Romy Lauche
Examining complementary medicine practitioners’ approaches to weight loss
A substantial proportion of people with overweight and obesity who want to lose weight consult complementary medicine (CM) practitioners for weight loss advice or assistance, yet almost nothing is known about how CM practitioners approach weight loss in clinical practice. This study will combine an online survey and qualitative interviews to examine CM practitioners’ weight loss approaches used by CM practitioners to provide a better understanding of the role of CM for weight loss in contemporary health care, and lay a foundation for future research evaluating efficacy and safety of those interventions that can benefit patients with overweight and obesity.
Funding: Endeavour College of Natural Health
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Romy Lauche
Cost utility of massage for the management of low back pain in Australia
Funding: Massage and Myotherapy Australia
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Amie Steel, Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt, Dr Jane Frawley, Dr Wenbo Peng
Chinese medicine practitioner knowledge, experience and attitudes towards professional registration in New South Wales
Funding: Health Professional Councils Authority (Chinese Medical Council)
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jon Wardle, Dr Wenbo Peng, Prof Jon Adams, Carolyn Michaeil
Osteopathy Australia Rural Practitioners Project
Funding: Osteopathy Australia
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Amie Steel, Dr Jon Wardle, Prof Jon Adams
The rise of complementary self-care: A national sociological study of women's strategies for coping and living with chronic illness
Conventional approaches to chronic illness in Australia have failed to meet the complex needs of sufferers, leading to an exponential rise in interest in and use of complementary self-care, particularly amongst women. In this study, drawing on a unique national sample of women suffering from chronic illnesses, we will provide critical insight into women’s complementary self-care practices and structures of disadvantage. This study will be the first worldwide to document previously ‘hidden’ complementary self-care practices, providing a new framework for understanding and promoting women's health and wellbeing in the context of chronic illness.
Funding: Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt, Prof Patricia Davidson
Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) Project
The Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) project, will help provide a broad evidence-based assessment of a range of issues around chiropractic practice and use in Australia that will be of direct benefit to patients, health care providers and policymakers. The ACORN project will provide the first national practice-based study of chiropractic worldwide.
Funding: Chiropractor’s Association Australia
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt, Dr Amie Steel, Dr Sungwon Chang, Dr Wenbo Peng
Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION) Project
Bridging the gap between research and osteopathy practitioners, ORION aims to shed light on the day-to-day practice of osteopathy in Australia, including what techniques are used, which patient populations are treated and what outcomes are achieved. This extensive research will provide valuable insight for osteopaths and other health professionals, to gain greater understanding of the osteopathy profession as a whole. The project will spark further sub-studies to greater explore osteopathy education, practice and the future of the profession. ORION is an opportunity to not just establish the infrastructure and evidence base for osteopathy research in the short term, but also to help grow a sustainable research culture and broad evidence platform for osteopathy into the future. Key to this will be developing a close working relationship with Universities offering osteopathy courses and academics working in osteopathy education and research.
Funding: Osteopathy Australia
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt, Dr Amie Steel
Ayurvedic Medicine Research Initiative (AMRIT UK)
AMRIT provides the first national practice-based research network of ayurvedic patient care in the UK examining who uses Ayurveda and why, bridging the disconnect between practitioners and researchers, developing and coordinating the evidence-base for ayurvedic medicine in the UK
Funding: Ayurvedic Practitioners Association, UK
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt
Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) Project
PRACI is the largest national practice-based research network for complementary healthcare practitioners in the world. PRACI is committed to: Strengthening the development of meaningful and practice relevant research in complementary healthcare; Supporting productive communication and engagement between complementary healthcare practitioners and researchers; stimulating and developing a sustainable research culture within complementary healthcare in Australia; facilitating the development of research networks in a range of complementary healthcare fields across Australia and internationally; progressing broad, rigorous scientific investigation to inform complementary healthcare patient care.
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Amie Steel, Prof Jon Adams, Prof David Sibbritt, Dr Jon Wardle
Complementary medicine self-care use amongst older non-indigenous adults with hypertension: A mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative investigation
Cancer incidence and mortality rates are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (respectfully referred to here as Indigenous Australians) than for non-indigenous Australians and latest figures show cancer accounts for 8% of all indigenous disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Work at UTS:ARCCIM has identified significant levels of CAM and indigenous ‘bush’ medicine (IM) use amongst indigenous Australians with cancer. While there are many risks, challenges and opportunities associated with ‘covert’ CAM/IM SM consumption in later life there remains no in-depth examination of this behaviour and associated decision-making, information-seeking, use of information sources, communication and (non)disclosure. In response, this stage provides the first in-depth analysis of CAM/IM SM use by older indigenous Australians with cancer.
Funding: Australian Research Council Future Fellowship
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams
The utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine for children: A mixed methods study to examine parental attitudes and information sources
This project will investigate parent’s decision making in relation to their children’s health service needs. It will examine parental decision making, attitudes and information seeking in relation to their children’s health care. A core focus of the study is to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children and to explore safety around this use including what children are using, how parents make decisions about CAM and whether they disclose this use to their primary healthcare practitioner.
Funding: Endeavour College Research Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jane Frawley, Prof Debra Jackson
The utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine for children: A mixed methods study to examine parental attitudes and information sources
This project will investigate parent’s decision making in relation to their children’s health service needs. It will examine parental decision making, attitudes and information seeking in relation to their children’s health care. A core focus of the study is to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children and to explore safety around this use including what children are using, how parents make decisions about CAM and whether they disclose this use to their primary healthcare practitioner.
Funding: Endeavour College Research Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jane Frawley, Prof Debra Jackson
Women’s reasons, perceptions, and expectations of consultation with acupunctures and use of acupuncture for menopausal symptoms
Most mid-age women need to seek medical advice for relieving menopausal symptoms. Acupuncture constitutes a popular treatment option amongst these women. This project identifies the role of acupuncturists in the overall support from the patient perspective, and explores the underlying decision-making process of acupuncture use for specific menopausal symptoms.
Funding: Endeavour College Research Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Wenbo Peng, Louise Hickman
Inheritance research on the School of Gu’s Chinese medical surgery
The School of Gu's Chinese medical surgery has a significant impact on the health of the general population in China. Due to the restriction of the medical system, inheritance patterns in traditional Chinese medicine are continuing to be in decline as a basis for surgery and medical decision-making. The purpose of this project is to explore the perceptions and experience of Chinese medicine masters (government-awarded) with regards to the potential challenges, barriers, and opportunities for young/new graduated Chinese medicine practitioners concerning Chinese medical surgery.
Funding: Shanghai Longhua Hospital
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Wenbo Peng
A randomized controlled trial to test the effects of a modified Ramadan fasting regimen
In medical terms Ramadan fasting can be considered intermittent fasting, with extended periods of food abstinence per day. While medical fasting itself has been considered beneficial for disease prevention and for chronic diseases, the effects of Ramadan fasting remain controversial, as studies have found positive as well as negative effects on body composition, blood lipids and sugar levels. One reason for the contradictory results may lie in the composition of meals. The psychosocial effects of Ramadan have not even been part of any examination so far. This randomized controlled trial for the first time ever examines the influence of Ramadan fasting on physical and mental well-being and health in adult Muslims using two different fasting regimens, an unaltered Ramadan vs. a modified fasting regimen. The modified fasting regimen is in concordance with the regulations of Ramadan, and it includes educational material on changes during fasting and recommendations regarding healthy meal selection and preparation. The study not only examines effects on blood metabolic and endocrine markers, but also physical and mental well-being and quality of life measurements to depict a complete understanding of participants’ experiences during Ramadan.
Funding: National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Romy Lauche
A cost-effectiveness analysis of massage therapy
A systematic review of the cost-effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of massage therapy aimed at identifying both current knowledge and gaps in available research. The outcomes of this review are intended to inform policy and support the development of a future research agenda.
Funding: Massage and Myotherapy Australia
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Amie Steel, Rebecca Reid, Prof Jon Adams
Clinical trial of St John’s Wort oil in herpetic neuralgia
Clinical trial of topical skin preparation in treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia using a wildcrafted herbal medicine product.
Funding: Artemis New Zealand
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jon Wardle
Professional mapping of the global naturopathic professions
The emerging naturopathic profession is growing internationally and is being increasingly integrated into mainstream care. Despite this very little is known about the regulatory, policy and education landscape of this profession. This project is the most comprehensive study of the naturopathic profession ever undertaken.
Funding: World Naturopathic Federation, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Wellpark College of Natural Therapies
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jon Wardle; Jill Dunn; Dr Amie Steel
Observational study of naturalistic individualised herbal medicine practice in anxiety and depression
Whilst much is known of herbal medicines for the treatment of medical conditions, there remains a dearth of evidence for individualised herbal medicine as it is practised by herbalists. This study will explore the outcomes of individualised herbal medicine practice as it is practised in real world settings.
Funding: Integria Health & Endeavour College of Natural Health
UTS Staff Involved: Dr Jon Wardle
Improving systems and quality of care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care settings
This study examines the patterns of care of Indigenous people with cancer at the primary health care (PHC) setting. Working collaboratively with PHC centres, we will examine what systems or processes are in place to identify such patients in the PHC centres, and make recommendations for improvements. Our primary focus is identifying factors that are modifiable, particularly those related to follow up/communication between the tertiary and the PHC systems, and management of comorbidities.
Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams
Pathways to and through palliative care: A sociological study of patient, carer and clinician experiences at the end-of-life
Well over 100,000 people die per year in Australia and this has major psychological, emotional and economic impacts on individuals, families and communities. While palliative care services exist to support patient and family needs at end-of-life, palliative care in Australia is often fractured, ideologically driven, and varied in scope depending on the context of care (i.e. dying at home versus in a hospice). This world-first sociological study will qualitatively explore patient and family pathways to and through palliative care, providing the knowledge necessary to enhance patient and family choice and improve care at the end of life.
Funding: Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams
Unintended consequences? A sociological study of how social relations influence decisions about antibiotics
Professional decision-making can be difficult to influence, particularly in health contexts. Decisions are often not just about scientific evidence of best practice. Rather, decisions are heavily influenced by social context and the relationships that surround them. An 'antimicrobial perfect storm' is predicted to occur within the next two decades, in part due to poor antibiotic decision-making, presenting a major threat to Australia. Using rigorous sociological research methods, this project will explore the social underpinnings of antibiotic decision-making, incorporating professional, lay and managerial perspectives. It will provide a means of understanding current practice and the barriers to enacting change.
Funding: Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant
UTS Staff Involved: Prof Jon Adams
