Effectiveness Gaps: A New Concept for Evaluating Health Service and Research Needs Applied to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

EGs, mapped against evidence, have the potential to inform service development and research policy. Further study should be undertaken: it should incorporate improved sampling and data collection methodology. Specifically, where effective CAM interventions exist but are not being applied, EGs form part of the "avoidable burden of illness" identified by early work on evidence-based medicine. Practice guidelines should incorporate CAM interventions where there is evidence. The CAM research agenda should focus on areas affected by EGs.