Redmond Rebecca, Steel Amie, Wardle Jon, Adams Jon
Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, NSW, Australia.
J Complement Integr Med. 2022 Sep 12;20(1):153-164. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2022-0175. eCollection 2023 Mar 1.
Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological disease with varying symptomatology and negative health outcomes. To ensure the best care for women with endometriosis, women require a multidisciplinary team approach. While some women consult with naturopaths for endometriosis, there has been little research on naturopathic knowledge and the naturopathic approach to endometriosis care.
This cross-sectional survey recruited naturopaths with experience in menstrual disorders from the Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI) a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Data collection was conducted via an online self-administrated 62-item questionnaire.
Invitations were sent to 109 naturopaths who self-reported having experience in menstrual disorders, of whom 29 completed the survey (26.6% response rate). Naturopaths perceived endometriosis to be caused by inflammation (n=28, 96.5%) and risk factors associated with familial history (n=26, 89.6%). Many naturopaths aimed at reducing inflammation (n=27, 93.1%) and supporting gastrointestinal function (n=25, 86.2%) in their prescriptions. Naturopaths reported using various healthcare referrals to support women with endometriosis, primarily general practitioners (n=12, 41.3%), acupuncturists/Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners (n=11, 37.9%), and gynaecologists (n=9, 31%). Naturopaths reported receiving referrals from general practitioners (n=8, 27.5%) and psychologists (n=6, 20.6%).
Naturopathic knowledge and management of endometriosis targets known problematic areas of endometriosis that can have debilitating effects on women's quality of life. Naturopathic care has the potential to align with important health outcomes for women with endometriosis however, further attention is needed to assess the effectiveness and continue to establish a multidisciplinary approach involving naturopathic care.
子宫内膜异位症是一种慢性妇科疾病，症状多样，会对健康产生不良影响。为确保为子宫内膜异位症女性提供最佳护理，需要采用多学科团队方法。虽然一些女性会咨询自然疗法医生来治疗子宫内膜异位症，但关于自然疗法医生的知识以及自然疗法对子宫内膜异位症护理的方法的研究很少。
这项横断面调查从基于实践的研究网络（PBRN）从业者研究与合作倡议（PRACI）中招募了有月经紊乱治疗经验的自然疗法医生。通过在线自行填写的62项问卷进行数据收集。
向109名自我报告有月经紊乱治疗经验的自然疗法医生发出了邀请，其中29人完成了调查（回复率为26.6%）。自然疗法医生认为子宫内膜异位症是由炎症引起的（n = 28，96.5%），以及与家族病史相关的风险因素（n = 26，89.6%）。许多自然疗法医生在开处方时旨在减轻炎症（n = 27，93.1%）和支持胃肠功能（n = 25，86.2%）。自然疗法医生报告使用各种医疗转诊来支持子宫内膜异位症女性，主要是全科医生（n = 12，41.3%）、针灸师/中医师（n = 11，37.9%）和妇科医生（n = 9，31%）。自然疗法医生报告收到来自全科医生（n = 8，27.5%）和心理学家（n = 6，20.6%）的转诊。
自然疗法医生对子宫内膜异位症的知识和管理针对的是子宫内膜异位症已知的问题领域，这些领域可能会对女性的生活质量产生削弱作用。自然疗法护理有可能与子宫内膜异位症女性的重要健康结果相一致，然而，需要进一步关注以评估其有效性，并继续建立包括自然疗法护理在内的多学科方法。
