Glossary

Acute illness - a disease with an abrupt onset and usually a short duration.  

Chronic illness - a condition that is long-term or permanent, as opposed to acute, and which needs to be managed on a long-term basis.

Complementary - treatments or therapies that complement rather than replace conventional medical (allopathic) practice. Such therapies may include mind-body techniques, biologically-based therapies (herbal supplements), energy and body-based therapies, eg: reiki, massage.

Double-blind trial - a trial in which one researcher allocates a series of numbers to the treatment being tested and another to the control treatment. The second researcher is told the numbers, but not what they have been allocated to. Since the second researcher does not know, they cannot possibly tell the patient, directly or otherwise, whether they are receiving treatment. This means they cannot give in to patient pressure to give them the new treatment. Double-blind trials are preferred as they tend to give the most accurate results.

Efficacy - the ability of a treatment or therapy to produce the desired effect.

Effectiveness - the extent to which a treatment or therapy produces a benefit in a defined population in uncontrolled or routine circumstances.

Federal regulator (see also regulator, regulation) - a composite body that regulates several professions.

Non-specific - interventions not directed against a particular agent, but rather having a general effect, as non-specific therapy.

Orthodox - a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Also called conventional medicine, Western medicine, mainstream medicine, biomedicine, and allopathic medicine.

Outcome - a specific result or effect that can be measured. Examples of clinical outcomes include decreased pain, reduced tumor size and improvement of disease.

Placebo - an inactive substance or treatment that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested. The effects of the active drug or treatment are compared to the effects of the placebo.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) - a trial in which subjects are randomly assigned to two groups: one (the experimental group) receiving the intervention that is being tested, and the other (the comparison or 'control' group) receiving a different treatment, which may be a placebo. Subjects do not know whether they are receiving the 'real' treatment or the 'control' one.

Regulator - a body that ensures compliance with a set of rules by setting standards for safe and competent practice, maintaining a register of suitably qualified practitioners, investigating complaints and, when necessary, disciplining practitioners.

Regulation - a principle or rule designed to govern conduct.

Specific - a remedy specially indicated for any particular disease.