The Complementary Medicine Research Unit individual member profile pages:

Sarah Brien

Dr Sarah Brien

Email: sbb@southampton.ac.uk
Phone: 02380 241069 / 07870642667
Job Title: Senior Research Fellow
 


Degrees / Qualifications: BSc, MSc, PhD
Biography:

My initial research interests were based on my fascination of the link between brain and behaviour. I have a Bsc in Physiology and Biochemistry, an Msc in Behavioural Biology and a PhD (neurochemistry and psychology of eating behaviour ). I also have a tax accountancy qualification, and therefore have some financial background.

I have worked as a researcher in complementary medicine, initially part time, since 2002. My interest in this field arose from my personal interest; my own experience of using homeopathy, and also in the use of CAM for the management of chronic disease. I have experience of both quantitative and qualitative methodology in the field of chronic arthritic conditions. I have supervised research in both CAM [ two PhD students and undergraduate medical projects] and in have also previously supervised Msc students in psychoneurochemistry. I am a regular reviewer for a number of academic journals.

I have secured funding for my research in CAM from a  number of sources: National Institute of Health, Wellcome Trust, Samueli Institute USA as well as charitable and corporate funding.  I am also a freelance researcher investigating nutritional and herbal treatment alternatives for non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

I am Principle Investigator on all trials and studies listed.

I lead the Society for Academic Primary Care CAM Special Interest Group.

Teaching Activities:

University of Southampton, 2002 - date

Supervision of two PhD and also undergraduate projects in complementary medicine at the University of Southampton.

Course Leader (2006 onwards), Familiarisation Course on Complementary Medicine, Third Year Medical students, University of Southampton

https://www.som.soton.ac.uk/CompMed/

Previous Teaching Experience

1992 - 1996 Visiting lecturer (U/Grad and P/Grad) University of Surrey

1992 - 1996 Postgraduate Supervisor for Msc Students

1992 - 1994  Workshop Tutor and Organiser (Addiction training courses for teachers) University of Surrey 

 
Research Interests: I have two main interests, both investigating the use of Complementary and alternative medicine use (currently these focus on homeopathy and herbal and nutritional supplements) for the treatment of chronic arthritic conditions.

My work funded by the National Institute of Health fellowship, is entitled " the Therapeutic Relationship in Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Efficacy, Emotional communication, and practitioners perception of effective consultation ". It aims to explore and provide further understanding on the non specific, or contextual factors on CAM treatment outcome. Using musculoskeletal disorders as a model, this research programme explores both patients' and practitioners' perspective of the therapeutic effectiveness of the consultation. The three main research questions are :-

(1) Are the positive effects of a CAM treatment due to the specific treatment effects, the consultation or both? This study, a 5 arm exploratory randomised placebo controlled clinical trial of homeopathic intervention in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, aims to quantify how much of the effect size is due to the consultation process and how much from the specific treatment remedy. This 3 centre trial is currently still in data collection phase with results expected Autumn 2008.

(2) Patient's perspectives of communication within the homoepathic consultation process, with particular emphasis on communication around emotional and spiritual issues. This qualitative study is using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore what homeopathic patients view about holistic communication. Data collection is currently ongoing with data collection and analysis completed by Summer 2008.

(3) What do CAM practitioners perceive to be an effective consultation? This grounded theory study is the focus of Caroline Eyles PhD. Data collection and analysis are ongoing with results expected by Winter 2008.

My current freelance work is focused on the efficacy and safety of a South African herbal remedy, Devils claw, in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This phase II, double blinded, placebo controlled trial is in data collection stage with results expected winter 2008.

In addition, I am involved in various other projects, for example
- A qualitative study (IPA) exploring the role of intuition in clinical decision making (working with Alex Burch, University of Plymouth). Papers in development.
- A qualitative study within a service evaluation of "Why GPs Refer Patients to CAM on the NHS". Paper in press.
- A Qualitative Analysis of Factors Affecting Use of Conventional Medicine Amongst Complementary and Alternative Medicine Users. Paper in development.
- Testing Herings Law of cure; the development of a scale. Study in progress.
- Systematic reviews of nutritional supplements, green lipped mussel and DMSO in the treatment of osteoarthritis; to identify future possible treatments to assess as alternatives to NSAID's.
My Publications