The featured introductory speakers represented diverse viewpoints: from patients’ organizations such as the Norwegian Cancer Society, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, and the Hvite Ørn association for people with experiences of mental health services; professional bodies including the Norwegian Acupuncture Association and the Norwegian Massage Association; as well as representatives from the official healthcare system, covering both primary health services as well as psychiatry.
Competence and Transparency as Key Safety Factors
-Most speakers emphasized transparency or openness about the CAM provider's medical qualifications, as well as the importance of dialogue and empathy in the clinical encounter, summarized Professor Miek Jong, NAFKAM’s director, after the meeting. Also, she noted that this aligns with NAFKAMs findings in several public opinion surveys over the last years.
Decline in Professional Organization Raises Concerns
In her conclusion, Professor Jong also stressed the need for a stronger, shared focus on patient safety and professionalism; especially as the share of Norwegians seeing CAM providers has grown from 20% to 26% since 2020 — meanwhile the official CAM Providers’ Registry has lost two-thirds of its members.
Survey Reveals Gaps in Understanding Risk
Ahead of the event, NAFKAM conducted a survey among organized CAM providers. This showed that Norwegian CAM providers highly prioritize patient safety, yet adverse effects are seldom reported — but also revealed clearly differing interpretations of safety terms like “risk” and “side effects:
-For example, some respondents commented that they don’t relate to the term ‘side effects’ because they associate such only with medical drugs and not the therapy they provide, stated NAFKAM-Professor Arne Johan Norheim. Thus, he called for clearer definitions and shared understanding between CAM providers and clinicians in the healthcare system.
-Acknowledging Risk Is Part of Professionalism
Conference participant Truls Isaksen from Tunsberg Medical School has over the years trained hundreds of CAM providers.
-No patient encounter can be considered absolutely risk-free, said Isaksen. -Even therapies considered mild, gentle and non-invasive carry risks such as miscommunication or delayed necessary care, he continued.
-Recognizing risk doesn’t undermine practice—it strengthens the providers’ accountability, Isaksen concluded.
Also, he warned that fewer CAM providers in the Registry could weaken safeguarding aspects like liability insurance, ethical guidelines, and complaint systems. Yet, he argued that the problem primarily lies in the registry’s credibility, not in the providers leaving it.
The Road Ahead
-To NAFKAM, it seems that both patients, CAM providers and licenced healthcare professionals recognize basic medical knowledge as a safety factor for all health-related treatment, says NAFKAM’s Head of Communications, Ola Lillenes.
-But, views on key concepts like risk and side effects still seem to differ substantially. Thus, a continued dialogue is essential, and we look forward to next year’s conference and exploring these issues further.
