Time to Talk campaign
The Time to Talk campaign was an educational initiative launched by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (now known as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) in 2008. Its primary aim was to encourage open communication between patients and healthcare providers regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, meditation, and herbal supplements. The campaign particularly targeted older adults, who represent a significant portion of CAM users, promoting the importance of discussing these therapies with their traditional medical practitioners.
Research indicated that while a substantial number of Americans engaged in CAM, a significant portion did not share this information with their healthcare providers, leading to potential health risks. To mitigate these risks, the campaign provided resources, including wallet cards and fact sheets, to facilitate discussions during medical visits. Although the campaign has officially ended, the NCCIH continues to advocate for patient education on CAM and promotes the careful integration of these practices with conventional medicine. The legacy of the Time to Talk campaign emphasizes the importance of informed patient-provider dialogue, ultimately aiming to enhance patient safety and empower individuals in managing their healthcare choices.
Time to Talk campaign
DEFINITION: A US government educational campaign that promoted patient and practitioner dialogue about the use of complementary and alternative medicine.
History
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), now known as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), introduced the Time to Talk campaign in 2008. This educational initiative aimed to open the lines of communication between patients and healthcare providers regarding using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices such as chiropractic, acupuncture, meditation, and herbal supplements. In the mid-2020s, the ideals of the Time to Talk campaign remained highly relevant, and it is essential patients discuss their CAM treatments with their traditional medical practitioner. The NCCIH continues to provide resources for these discussions.
NCCAM’s primary goal for the Time to Talk campaign was to integrate the safe use of CAM with conventional medicine. The campaign was aimed primarily at older people because they are the most common CAM users. Joint research between NCCAM and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that while a majority (50 to 65 percent) of Americans used CAM, only one-third shared this information with their healthcare providers. Those surveyed, especially men and younger adults, stated they were unaware they should share this information with their practitioner. Conversely, doctors reported not routinely asking patients whether they used CAM.
This failure to communicate may pose potential health risks, especially to those persons who take several daily prescribed medications. Also, a lack of communication can lead a person to seek answers from unreliable sources, including publications with inaccurate or misleading health information, dubious Internet sites, and the recommendations of influencers and strangers on social media. Through discussion, doctors can minimize the potential interaction risks with conventional medicine treatment, and health consumers can make sound, informed decisions to direct their own healthcare.
When completing a medical history questionnaire before visiting a doctor, the Time to Talk campaign recommended listing all utilized CAM therapies and medications, including over-the-counter, dietary, and herbal supplements. The campaign recommended being proactive about CAM by asking questions and discussing concerns during doctor appointments. For doctors, key points in the discussion included informing the patient of the effectiveness and safety of a specific CAM therapy by providing facts from scientific, evidence-based research, discussing how a CAM therapy may interact with a conventionally prescribed therapy, and recommending whether a CAM therapy should be pursued.
NCCAM provided free toolkits and information in English and Spanish for the Time to Talk campaign and wallet cards listing many CAM and conventional prescriptions and treatments. The literature and media campaigns showed initial success. A 2009 NCCAM study assessed the provided materials and found that when patients were provided with the wallet card and fact sheets, 83 to 97 percent would use the card or discuss the matters involved with their primary physician.
While the Time to Talk campaign officially ended, the National Institutes of Health continues to promote education about CAM. They urge discussing all alternative therapies with medical providers through the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). The NCCIH provides patients with information on being informed when purchasing and utilizing CAM products and therapies. The NCCIH continues to urge patients to think about all CAM outlets, including nutritional, psychological, and physical, and maintain an open line of communication with traditional doctors about supplements and alternative therapies. Individuals are also encouraged to do their due diligence when choosing a CAM provider. The legacy of the Time to Talk campaign lies in its ability to inform patients how to bring discussions of CAM into the traditional medical community in a responsible and informed way. It helped promote patient safety, empower patients, reduce the stigma of CAM, and educate new CAM users on integrating alternative and traditional medicine.
Bibliography
American Association of Retired Persons and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People Fifty and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians." Consumer Survey Report, January 18, 2007.
Barnes, Patricia M., et al. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2007." National Health Stat Report, vol. 12, 2008, pp. 1-23.
"Be an Informed Consumer." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Feb. 2020, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/be-an-informed-consumer. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.
Byrne, Christine. "Why It’s So Important to Consult Your Doctor Before Taking Supplements." SilverSneakers, 2 Nov. 2021, www.silversneakers.com/blog/why-its-so-important-to-consult-your-doctor-before-taking-supplements. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.
"4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/tips-start-talking-with-your-health-care-providers-about-complementary-health-approaches. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024.