How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine?
The field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) has garnered increasing attention due to its holistic approach to health and well-being. While the quantity of published research about TCIM has increased exponentially, critics have argued that the field faces challenges relat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Integrative Medicine Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000489 |
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| author | Jeremy Y. Ng Myeong Soo Lee Jian-ping Liu Amie Steel L. Susan Wieland Claudia M. Witt David Moher Holger Cramer |
| author_facet | Jeremy Y. Ng Myeong Soo Lee Jian-ping Liu Amie Steel L. Susan Wieland Claudia M. Witt David Moher Holger Cramer |
| author_sort | Jeremy Y. Ng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) has garnered increasing attention due to its holistic approach to health and well-being. While the quantity of published research about TCIM has increased exponentially, critics have argued that the field faces challenges related to methodological rigour, reproducibility, and overall quality. This article proposes meta-research as one approach to evaluating and improving the quality of TCIM research. Meta-research, also known as research about research, can be defined as “the study of research itself: its methods, reporting, reproducibility, evaluation, and incentives”. By systematically evaluating methodological rigour, identifying biases, and promoting transparency, meta-research can enhance the reliability and credibility of TCIM research. Specific topics of interest that are discussed in this article include the following: 1) study design and research methodology, 2) reporting of research, 3) research ethics, integrity, and misconduct, 4) replicability and reproducibility, 5) peer review and journal editorial practices, 6) research funding: grants and awards, and 7) hiring, promotion, and tenure. For each topic, we provide case examples to illustrate meta-research applications in TCIM. We argue that meta-research initiatives can contribute to maintaining public trust, safeguarding research integrity, and advancing evidence based TCIM practice, while challenges include navigating methodological complexities, biases, and disparities in funding and academic recognition. Future directions involve tailored research methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, policy implications, and capacity building in meta-research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86a281c06eee4747812892f2ba65df1a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2213-4220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Integrative Medicine Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-86a281c06eee4747812892f2ba65df1a2025-08-20T03:37:53ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202024-09-0113310106810.1016/j.imr.2024.101068How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine?Jeremy Y. Ng0Myeong Soo Lee1Jian-ping Liu2Amie Steel3L. Susan Wieland4Claudia M. Witt5David Moher6Holger Cramer7Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health, Bosch Health Campus, Stuttgart, Germany; Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Corresponding author at: Institute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South KoreaCentre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaAustralian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, AustraliaCenter for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandCentre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaInstitute of General Practice and Interprofessional Care, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health, Bosch Health Campus, Stuttgart, GermanyThe field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) has garnered increasing attention due to its holistic approach to health and well-being. While the quantity of published research about TCIM has increased exponentially, critics have argued that the field faces challenges related to methodological rigour, reproducibility, and overall quality. This article proposes meta-research as one approach to evaluating and improving the quality of TCIM research. Meta-research, also known as research about research, can be defined as “the study of research itself: its methods, reporting, reproducibility, evaluation, and incentives”. By systematically evaluating methodological rigour, identifying biases, and promoting transparency, meta-research can enhance the reliability and credibility of TCIM research. Specific topics of interest that are discussed in this article include the following: 1) study design and research methodology, 2) reporting of research, 3) research ethics, integrity, and misconduct, 4) replicability and reproducibility, 5) peer review and journal editorial practices, 6) research funding: grants and awards, and 7) hiring, promotion, and tenure. For each topic, we provide case examples to illustrate meta-research applications in TCIM. We argue that meta-research initiatives can contribute to maintaining public trust, safeguarding research integrity, and advancing evidence based TCIM practice, while challenges include navigating methodological complexities, biases, and disparities in funding and academic recognition. Future directions involve tailored research methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, policy implications, and capacity building in meta-research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000489Complementary and integrative medicineMeta-researchMetascienceResearch qualityTraditional medicine |
| spellingShingle | Jeremy Y. Ng Myeong Soo Lee Jian-ping Liu Amie Steel L. Susan Wieland Claudia M. Witt David Moher Holger Cramer How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? Integrative Medicine Research Complementary and integrative medicine Meta-research Metascience Research quality Traditional medicine |
| title | How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? |
| title_full | How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? |
| title_fullStr | How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? |
| title_full_unstemmed | How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? |
| title_short | How can meta-research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine? |
| title_sort | how can meta research be used to evaluate and improve the quality of research in the field of traditional complementary and integrative medicine |
| topic | Complementary and integrative medicine Meta-research Metascience Research quality Traditional medicine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000489 |
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