Table 2 The Preliminary survey instrument

1. There are limited funding opportunities to conduct research in CAM.

2. There are limited incentives for researchers to participate in CAM.

3. There are limited opportunities for CAM practitioners to contribute to CAM research.

4. There are limited numbers of dedicated CAM researchers

5. There are limited numbers of journal/grant reviewers with expert understanding of CAM.

6. There are limited large scale and long-term CAM research studies.

7. There are limited opportunities to recruit CAM research participants due to negative public attitudes towards CAM.

8. There are negative perceptions of CAM research amongst those outside the field of CAM.

9. There are limited opportunities to publish CAM research in scientific journals.

10. There is limited collaboration between CAM and other health researchers.

11. There are limited numbers of CAM researchers who have dedicated expertise in a CAM discipline.

12. There is limited recognition for the value of research within CAM.

13. There are limited opportunities for research skills development in CAM undergraduate education.

14. There are limited opportunities for CAM undergraduate students to contribute to CAM.

15. Traditional research designs are of limited value to test complex individualised CAM treatments.

16. The reductionist biomedical model of care is not compatible with the broader CAM holistic model of care.

17. CAM practitioners have limited access to research evidence.

18. CAM practitioners have limited access to research training.

19. CAM practitioners have limited awareness of clinical practice guidelines.

20. CAM practitioners have limited knowledge and skills to locate the best available research evidence.

21. Publication bias poses a challenge for CAM practitioners to locate evidence.

22. CAM practitioners have limited knowledge and skills to appraise research evidence.

23. CAM practitioners have limited knowledge and skills to apply research evidence to practice.

24. Inconsistencies within CAM research evidence are an obstacle to applying research evidence to practice.

25. CAM practitioners have limited knowledge and skills to communicate research findings to their patients.

26. CAM practitioners have limited time to apply research evidence to their practice.

27. CAM practitioners have limited financial incentives to use research evidence to inform their practice.

28. CAM practitioners have little professional obligation to use research evidence to inform their practice.

29. CAM practitioners have diverse views on what constitutes research evidence.

30. CAM practitioners are often faced with patient expectations that are contrary to research evidence.