University of Calgary

Research Program

Research Program Development

Dr. Verhoef was awarded a Canada Research Chair in Complementary Medicine in 2001. In the first year, the Complementary Medicine Research Group was established (see Staff ). This group continues to advance Canada's research in this field through the following areas:

Psychosocial aspects of complementary and integrative medicine use in cancer

In 2000, Drs. Anne Leis and Marja Verhoef were funded as co-principal Investigators of the Cancer and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Team (CCAM ). The CCAM team is a multidisciplinary research team currently consisting of 12 researchers and practitioners and 1 coordinator from across Canada. They have built a coherent research program around the sociobehavioural aspects of CAM and cancer, including CAM utilization studies in ethnic cancer populations, exploration of appropriate methodologies to evaluate CAM interventions, testing some CAM modalities, studies examining evidence-based decision making and CAM information dissemination. The CCAM team co-authored the August 2007 issue (Vol.15, No.8) of Supportive Care in Cancer and nine articles in the August 2008 issue of Current Oncology.

CCAM is established by the Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network of the Center for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluation (CBRPE) funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Due to the restructuring of NCIC and CCS (now the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute), CBRPE funding will cease in 2009.

Examples of current research projects include:

  • A longitudinal and case-controlled study of women with breast cancer who decide to decline conventional cancer treatment and use complementary and alternative therapies. [CBCRA funded: 2006-2010].
  • Pathways: Understanding cancer patients' pathways of care: An international pilot study [Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation , Norwegian Research Council: 2008-2010].
  • Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes Program (CAMEO) [Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation: 2008-2013].


Back to top
Complementary medicine teaching in undergraduate medical education

Dr. Verhoef initiated (2001) and chairs the Canadian Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Undergraduate Medical Education project. The CAM in UME project as it is known, is a national project to develop a CAM and Natural Health Product (NHP) curriculum for introduction into Canadian undergraduate medical education programs. The goal of the project is to assist medical school instructors with the task of helping their students develop the attitude, skills, and knowledge necessary to discuss CAM/NHPs with patients in an informed and non-judgmental manner.

Since it's inception, support for the CAM in UME project (2001-2011)has been received from:


For more information, please go to the CAM in UME Project Web site.


Whole systems research methodology


During the mid-nineties, Dr. Verhoef became increasingly aware of the needs to develop different methodological approaches to the evaluation of CAM, especially complex interventions, such as CAM systems. To this end, she proposed the use of combined methods research (both qualitative and quantitative) particularly the need to add qualitative inquiry to randomized control trials of CAM. With her colleagues, she has written several book chapters on this topic. Dr. Verhoef continues to explore this field.


1. Verhoef MJ, Leis A. From studying patient treatment to studying patient care: Arriving at methodological crossroads. Hematology/Oncology Clinics in North American 2008; 22:671-683.
2.Verhoef MJ, Vanderheyden LC, Fonnebø V. A whole systems research approach to cancer care: Why do we need it and how do we get started? Integr Cancer Ther, 2006; 5: 287-292.
3.Verhoef MJ, Lewith G, Ritenbaugh C, Boon H, Fleishman S, Leis A. Complementary and alternative whole system research: Beyond identification of inadequacies of the RCT. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2005, 13: 206-212.
4. Ritenbaugh CK, Verhoef MJ, Fleishman S, Boon H, Leis A. Whole systems research: A discipline for studying complementary and alternative medicine. Alt Ther Health Med, 2003; 9: 32-36.

 

CAM research networks


Dr. Verhoef has been involved in a the development of several research networks that aim to build research capacity in the CAM field.

CCAM

The CCAM team is made up of 12 researchers and practitioners from across Canada and 1 coordinator. The team aims to generate new knowledge about CAM treatment and healing approaches in cancer and to promote and disseminate person-centered, evidence-based practices that include the safe, effective and informed use of CAM throughout the cancer control continuum.

IN-CAM

In 2003, Dr. Verhoef and Dr. Heather Boon (University of Toronto) established the Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research (IN-CAM) with a CIHR interdisciplinary capacity enhancement grant. IN-CAM is an interdisciplinary collaborative research network, created to foster excellence in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research in Canada. IN-CAM is supportive of all types of CAM research, but has a special emphasis on research from a health services or social science perspective.

For more information, please visit www.incamresearch.ca.

ISCMR

The International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR) is a worldwide not-for-profit professional association devoted to fostering co-operative and multidisciplinary research and development as well as the application of knowledge in the fields of Complementary, Traditional and Integrated Medicine.


In 2003, Dr. Verhoef was elected as the first President of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR). Since her two-year tenure, Dr. Verhoef is serving as an active member of the board of directors.

For more information, please visit www.iscmr.org.

ISCMR

Evaluating integrative health care models


In 2000, Dr. Verhoef became part-time Research Director at the Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Vancouver which was one of the first formal integrative care clinics in Canada. Although the Institute closed in March 2003 due to lack of financial sustainability, she continued working with the Institutes's Research team (The Tzu Chi Research Group- A Mulkins, M White, J Eng) and published a wide range of articles addressing questions arising from integrative practice. An important focus of this work is to assess what contributes to optimal healing environments and how this can be assessed.

Examples of funded research projects include:


Based on the Tzu-Chi experience, the Living Well Lab was established to assess the impact of complementary and alternative medicine in the quality of life and rehabilitation of persons living with HIV/AIDS. [CIHR funded: 2006-2008]
For questions or comments about the site please contact the webmaster.