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Reading a naturopathy study: a method for professionals in Switzerland

You find an interesting publication, save it in a folder and later cannot remember exactly what it contributed. When reading a naturopathy study, a short set of notes that you can retrieve, revisit and discuss is particularly useful. This habit suits naturopaths in Switzerland as well as students developing their scientific literacy.

The aim is not to draw an immediate recommendation from an article. It is to distinguish what was studied, what was observed and what remains uncertain. Here is a working method for your next reading session, without multiplying documents or turning every search into an endless project.

1. Write your question before looking for an answer

Start with a precise sentence: “I want to understand how this publication measures its main outcome.” This is easier to address than “What does science say about this subject?”. Also note why you are reading: to prepare a discussion, explore course material or check a statement you encountered online.

Choose just one objective for this session. If other questions arise, put them on a separate list. You will avoid leaving the article after a few lines to open ten more browser tabs. Completed notes on a limited question are more useful than a collection of links without any commentary.

2. Find the publication and identify its context

Keep the exact title, authors, date, journal and permanent link or DOI where available. Clearly state whether you read the full text or only the abstract. The NCCIH guide explains that an abstract presents the main points, while the detailed sections allow readers to examine methods and results.

Add a line about the context: what kind of publication is it, who was the work conducted with and over what period? Write “information not accessible” when something is missing. An explicitly unresolved field is better than an assumption that later becomes a fact in your notes.

3. Separate findings from interpretation

Create two sections: “What the authors report” and “My understanding”. In the first, restate the main finding in restrained language. In the second, record questions and reservations. This separation will help you recognise, even weeks later, what came from the text and what reflects your own thinking.

Avoid shortcuts such as “this proves that…”. NCCIH points out that a statistically significant result is not necessarily large enough to be clinically useful. If you do not understand a measure, write down its name and the question you need to investigate rather than assigning it an approximate meaning.

4. Make limitations easy to find

Reserve a clearly identified space for limitations described in the publication and information you could not check. Add a section for funding and declared conflicts of interest. Your notes should make these details as easy to retrieve as the conclusion, even when they complicate your initial impression.

Then place the reading in a broader context. Cochrane’s plain language summaries explain findings from research syntheses and how confident readers can be in them. They can provide a comparison point without replacing careful reading of the sources relevant to your question.

5. Finish with a realistic next step

The next step can simply be “read the full methods”, “look for a recent review” or “ask for an explanation of this measure”. Reading an article does not, on its own, constitute a care decision. These notes organise your professional reading; they replace neither training nor a professional assessment suited to a particular situation.

To share your reading, provide the reference and a concise personal summary without patient data. ASNFD lists studies and guides among its resources, with access depending on membership category. If this approach interests you, explore the membership pathways to understand the arrangements relevant to your situation.

Your reading notes in six lines

My question and reading objective.
The reference and my level of access to the text.
The publication type and its context.
The main finding, cautiously restated.
Limitations and information still to check.
My next step and review date.

Practical questions before joining ASNFD

Do I already need to be skilled in scientific reading? You can begin with these simple notes and identify the concepts you need to work on. Membership does not certify competence in scientific analysis.

Which benefits and access should I expect? All members currently receive 25% off courses under the secretariat’s conditions; access to resources varies by category. Check the current membership fees before applying.

Would you like to make this approach part of your professional development? Explain your situation to the secretariat or complete the membership application form. Admission and verification of qualifications remain separate processes.