Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 37
The term ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ describes a variety of approaches to medical theory and practice, which commonly are not accepted by representatives of conventional medicine. Because of the high level of interest and demand for CM, there is an urgent need for a system that covers scientific literature of CM not incorporated in Medline or other electronic databases. For this reason, we launched the CAMbase project, which is accessible online without fees or additional costs at www.cambase.de.
Using XML-based protocols, already existing databases of CAM were imported and indexed in a central database for online retrieval. XML-based interfaces, which have been developed in this project, can be used to easily embed CAMbase into institutional homepages, international research networks and bibliographical portals on CAM.
Since the relaunch of CAMbase in August 2003, more than 30 000 search queries have been registered. A first analysis of the search terms led to the conclusion that apart from scientists and researchers, CAMbase is also used by practical physicians and patients to inform themselves about complementary therapies.
In the future the accessibility of full-text versions of original publications on CM will be improved. A corresponding development of CAMbase is projected at present. Additionally, CAMbase is seeking further international partners covering special areas such as spiritual aspects of medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
CAMbase is currently funded with a National Grant of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).
