Evidence-based Iranian traditional medicine; schemes and threats

Identifying the reliable resources and using documented and valid evidence for students’ training and patients’ treatment is essential considering the reconsideration of Iranian traditional medicine by Iran Ministry of Health, treatment and medical education. Therefore, the present study was conducted to specify the measures and threats and the necessary solutions for application or enhancement of the application of evidence based medicine in Iranian traditional medicine.

This qualitative study addressed the view of Iranian traditional medicine experts by content analysis method and using a semi -structured, deep and face-to-face interview in 2011. Sampling was initiated in a purposive way and continued up to achieving the information saturation and totally 13 individuals interviewed. Data collection tool was a semi-structured interview consist a number of open questions performing by one of the researchers.

The obtained themes were classified into three main categories: existing opportunities in the application of evidence-based medicine (Global approach to traditional medicine, the authorities and universities’ welcome, presence of interested teachers etc.), existing threats in the application of evidence-based medicine (lack of a common strategic program, lack of teachers, etc.) and requirements and proposed approaches in the application of evidence-based medicine (benchmarking of neighboring countries, teachers’ changing of insight, etc.).

All of the authorities of traditional medicine in Iran emphasize the necessities of the application of evidence-based medicine in Iran traditional medicine and also traditional medicine faculties.