Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration

This educational article explores the convergence of open science practices and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges of open science for the development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based TCIM. We empha...

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Main Authors: Jeremy Y. Ng, L. Susan Wieland, Myeong Soo Lee, Jian-ping Liu, Claudia M. Witt, David Moher, Holger Cramer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-06-01
Series:Integrative Medicine Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000271
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author Jeremy Y. Ng
L. Susan Wieland
Myeong Soo Lee
Jian-ping Liu
Claudia M. Witt
David Moher
Holger Cramer
author_facet Jeremy Y. Ng
L. Susan Wieland
Myeong Soo Lee
Jian-ping Liu
Claudia M. Witt
David Moher
Holger Cramer
author_sort Jeremy Y. Ng
collection DOAJ
description This educational article explores the convergence of open science practices and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges of open science for the development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based TCIM. We emphasize the transformative shift in medical science towards open and collaborative practices, highlighting the limited application of open science in TCIM research despite its growing acceptance among patients. We define open science practices and discuss those that are applicable to TCIM, including: study registration; reporting guidelines; data, code and material sharing; preprinting; publishing open access; and reproducibility/replication studies. We explore the benefits of open science in TCIM, spanning improved research quality, increased public trust, accelerated innovation, and enhanced evidence-based decision-making. We also acknowledge challenges such as data privacy concerns, limited resources, and resistance to cultural change. We propose strategies to overcome these challenges, including ethical guidelines, education programs, funding advocacy, interdisciplinary dialogue, and patient engagement. Looking to the future, we envision the maturation of open science in TCIM, the development of TCIM-specific guidelines for open science practices, advancements in data sharing platforms, the integration of open data and artificial intelligence in TCIM research, and changes in the context of policy and regulation. We foresee a future where open science in TCIM leads to a better evidence base, informed decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transformative impacts on healthcare and research methodologies, highlighting the promising synergy between open science and TCIM for holistic, evidence-based healthcare solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-ae7b762ef54d4446963b1e3810a2a7db2025-08-20T03:04:10ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202024-06-0113210104710.1016/j.imr.2024.101047Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaborationJeremy Y. Ng0L. Susan Wieland1Myeong Soo Lee2Jian-ping Liu3Claudia M. Witt4David Moher5Holger Cramer6Institute 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 72076, Germany.Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandKM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaCentre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaInstitute 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, GermanyThis educational article explores the convergence of open science practices and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges of open science for the development, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based TCIM. We emphasize the transformative shift in medical science towards open and collaborative practices, highlighting the limited application of open science in TCIM research despite its growing acceptance among patients. We define open science practices and discuss those that are applicable to TCIM, including: study registration; reporting guidelines; data, code and material sharing; preprinting; publishing open access; and reproducibility/replication studies. We explore the benefits of open science in TCIM, spanning improved research quality, increased public trust, accelerated innovation, and enhanced evidence-based decision-making. We also acknowledge challenges such as data privacy concerns, limited resources, and resistance to cultural change. We propose strategies to overcome these challenges, including ethical guidelines, education programs, funding advocacy, interdisciplinary dialogue, and patient engagement. Looking to the future, we envision the maturation of open science in TCIM, the development of TCIM-specific guidelines for open science practices, advancements in data sharing platforms, the integration of open data and artificial intelligence in TCIM research, and changes in the context of policy and regulation. We foresee a future where open science in TCIM leads to a better evidence base, informed decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and transformative impacts on healthcare and research methodologies, highlighting the promising synergy between open science and TCIM for holistic, evidence-based healthcare solutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000271Complementary and integrative medicineOpen scienceOpen science practicesResearch transparencyTraditional medicine
spellingShingle Jeremy Y. Ng
L. Susan Wieland
Myeong Soo Lee
Jian-ping Liu
Claudia M. Witt
David Moher
Holger Cramer
Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
Integrative Medicine Research
Complementary and integrative medicine
Open science
Open science practices
Research transparency
Traditional medicine
title Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
title_full Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
title_fullStr Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
title_full_unstemmed Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
title_short Open science practices in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research: A path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
title_sort open science practices in traditional complementary and integrative medicine research a path to enhanced transparency and collaboration
topic Complementary and integrative medicine
Open science
Open science practices
Research transparency
Traditional medicine
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000271
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