ARTICLE
ATMS resources offered to members
Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement or disagreement with five statements about resources offered to members by ATMS , using five-point Likert scales ( strongly disagree = 1 , disagree = 2 , neither agree nor disagree = 3 , agree = 4 , strongly agree = 5 ).
• For the statement , I regularly use the EBSCO search engine through the ATMS website to look for relevant research to support my clinical decision-making , almost half ( 48.3 %, n = 515 ) strongly disagreed or disagreed , around one-third neither agreed nor disagreed ( n = 369 , 34.6 %), and 17.2 % ( n = 183 ) agreed or strongly agreed .
• For the statement , I am aware of the research and education grants offered through ATMS for practitioners , almost one-third of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed ( n = 333 , 31.2 %), a quarter neither agreed nor disagreed ( n = 270 , 25.3 %) and 43.5 % ( n = 465 ) agreed or strongly agreed .
• The majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement , It is important to me that the Journal of ATMS presents up to date clinical information I can use in my practice , ( n = 930 , 87 %%) either agreed or strongly agreed .
Suggestions for other ways ATMS can help members get information to support clinical practice .
Question 15 asked respondents to list suggestions for how ATMS can help members get information to support their clinical practices . This was a free text entry question and was analysed qualitatively .
Databases and Resources Many expressed interests participating in webinars on how to utilise EBSCO data base , and on how to improve their abilities to search for studies in their modality . One was hoping to have a search engine created specifically for practitioners and their modalities . Some respondents said they would like to see more detail in the articles in JATMS . Some members requested access to MIMS .
Emails Many people reported that they still use emails as their main source of communication . A few members commented that the emails were poorly structured and not practical .
You send out so many emails yet it feels like they aren ' t structured . Try less emails with a more structured content and less reminders about one symposium .
Website Organisation and Resources Quite a few responses indicated that members were hoping for a clear list of resources on the ATMS website . Some requested there be a list of documents . One participant asked if they could have an ATMS logo created for the end of her emails to make the emails look more credible . Another requested an on-line bookstore for wholesale book selling options .
Research and natural medicine
Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement or disagreement with two statements regarding research and natural medicine , using five-point Likert scales ( strongly disagree = 1 , disagree = 2 , neither agree nor disagree = 3 , agree = 4 , strongly agree = 5 ).
• Around one-quarter ( n = 263 , 24.6 %) of respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement , I regularly use research evidence in my clinical decision-making , and two-thirds ( n = 724 , 67.8 %) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ( Figure 9 ).
• The majority of respondents ( n = 914 , 85.2 %) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement , Building a research evidence-base is important to support natural medicine practice ( Figure 9 ).
• For the statement , The Wise ‘ n ’ Well email and other ATMS communications are a useful resource for my clinical practice , around one-quarter ( n = 289 , 27.1 %) neither agreed nor disagreed , and the majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed ( n = 708 , 66.4 %).
• Half of the respondents ( n = 548 , 51.2 %) neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement , Natural Medicine Week has increased the public awareness of my business ; almost one-third ( n = 361 , 34 %) disagreed or strongly disagreed , and 14.5 % ( n = 154 ) agreed or strongly agreed .
Figure 9 . Use of research evidence and building a research evidence-base for natural medicine
Strongly agree Agree
Neither agree nor disagree Disagree
Strongly disagree n = 235 , 22 %
n = 263 , 24.6 % n = 133 , 12.4 % n = 67 , 6.3 % n = 18 , 1.7 %
n = 14 , 1.3 % n = 8 , 0.75 % n = 400 , 37.3 %
n = 489 , 45.8 % n = 514 , 47.9 %
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Number of respondents
I regularly use research evidence in my clinical decision-making . Building a research evidence-base is important to support natural medicine practice .
74 | vol27 | no2 | JATMS