scholarly journals Medical student attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in medical education: a critical review

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Joyce ◽  
Jon Wardle ◽  
Chris Zaslawski
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Student Attitudes ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

AbstractBackgroundThis paper aims to remedy a gap in the knowledge by presenting the first critical review of the literature on major themes relating to medical students perceptions and attitudes towards the exponentially growing field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).MethodsAfter a comprehensive database search of the literature, 21 papers were chosen as suitable for the review. The results from these papers were tabled and discussed.ResultsThe results indicated that medical students lacked knowledge of CAM and are generally positive towards CAM education (especially in the preclinical years, if it provided evidence of efficacy and post-placement). Medical students thought that CAM should generally be incorporated into the medical curriculum mainly so they can confidently undertake referral to CAM practitioners. Being able to communicate with future patients about their CAM use was a major motivation for medical students to learn about CAM and a factor for medical student support of further incorporation of CAM content in the medical curricula. Educational exposure to CAM in many forms and in many papers was shown to significantly affect medical student attitudes to CAM. This may be reflective of the fact that, outside direct CAM training, there may be limited accessible opportunities for medical students and if integration is to occur, educational exposure is most important.ConclusionsThe rise of CAM as a social and clinical phenomenon necessitates consideration of further inclusion of these topics in the medical curriculum, if future physicians are to be able to fully discharge their role as care providers in an increasingly medically pluralistic world. However, the inclusion of CAM needs to be done in an objective and critical manner, which is relevant to the learner.

scholarly journals Medical students use, attitudes towards, and knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Sarah Brown ◽  
Justin L C Bilszta
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes And Knowledge ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Introduction: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is popular in the general population and medical practitioners may not be fully equipped in their knowledge of CAM to advise patients appropriately. The aim of this paper was to perform a scoping review of current literature describing undergraduate medical student use, attitudes, and knowledge of CAM as a means of better understanding the educational needs of these students. Methods: A systematic search of Medline, PubMed and the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) databases with keywords related to “complementary and alternative medicine” and “undergraduate medical students” for relevant articles published until August 2020. Results: Of 131 papers identified, 38 underwent full review. It was found 13-80% of medical students use CAM, and overall have a positive attitude towards CAM therapies. Female medical students and those with religiosity had more positive attitudes towards CAM than their male colleagues and those without a religion. Knowledge of CAM is lacking with approximately only half of students feeling they were knowledgeable about CAM therapies. Popular information resources are the Internet and social media, but students expressed they want more teaching of CAM in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Conclusion: Evidence suggests high usage of CAM amongst undergraduate medical students, and positive attitudes towards CAM therapies; however, knowledge of CAM is poor, and students want more CAM teaching to upskill them in counselling patients interested in CAM therapies. Further areas for research include a better understanding of resources medical students use for their knowledge and how gender and religiosity influence attitudes towards CAM.

scholarly journals A Survey of Medical Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Urmia, Iran

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Sadeghi ◽  
Soheila Rabiepoor ◽  
Aida Sefidani Forough ◽  
Shiva Jabbari ◽  
Shahram Shahabi
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorders ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Data Collection Instrument ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Personal beliefs of medical students may interfere with their tendency for learning Complementary and Alternative Medicine concepts. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward complementary and alternative medicine in Urmia, Iran. A structured questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. One hundred questionnaires were returned. Thirty-one percent of students reported use of alternative medicine for at least once. Iranian Traditional Medicine was the main type of alternative medicine used by medical students (93.5%). Neuromuscular disorders were the main indication of alternative medicine use among students (34.4%). Ninety percent of participants demonstrated competent knowledge about acupuncture while the lowest scores belonged to homeopathy (12%). Study results showed that 49% of medical students had positive attitudes and demonstrated a willingness to receive training on the subject. Thus, there appears a necessity to integrate complementary and alternative medicine into the medical curriculum, by taking expectations and feedbacks of medical students into consideration.

scholarly journals Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Comparison of Current Knowledge, Attitudes and Interest among German Medical Students and Doctors

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karsten Münstedt ◽  
Hildegard Harren ◽  
Richard von Georgi ◽  
Andreas Hackethal
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
Bivariate Correlation ◽  
Supportive Oncology ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Although it has been agreed that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) should be included in the German medical curriculum, there is no consensus on which methods and how it should be taught. This study aimed to assess needs for CAM education by evaluating current knowledge, attitudes and interests of medical students, general physicians and gynecologists. Two instruments based on established and validated questionnaires were developed. One was given to seventh semester medical students and the other to office-based doctors. Data were analyzed by bivariate correlation and cross-tabulation. Altogether 550 questionnaires were distributed—280 to doctors and 270 to medical students. Completed questionnaires were returned by 80.4% of students and 78.2% of doctors. Although 73.8% (160/219) of doctors and 40% (87/217) of students had already informed themselves about CAM, neither group felt that they knew much about CAM. Doctors believed that CAM was most useful in general medicine, supportive oncology, pediatrics, dermatology and gynecology, while students believed that dermatology, general medicine, psychiatry and rheumatology offered opportunities; both recommended that CAM should be taught in these areas. Both groups believed that CAM should be included in medical education; however, they believed that CAM needed more investigation and should be taught “critically". German doctors and students would like to be better informed about CAM. An approach which teaches fundamental competences to students, chooses specific content based on evidence, demographics and medical conditions and provides students with the skills they need for future learning should be adopted.

scholarly journals Medical students’ views: an exploration of medical student attitudes towards disclosure of mental illness

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1792393
Author(s):  
Jawwad Mihran Haider ◽  
Fenu Maithriratne Ediripolage ◽  
Umar Salim ◽  
Syed Kamran
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Medical Student Attitudes

scholarly journals Seeking Mind, Body and Spirit Healing–-Why Some Men with Prostate Cancer Choose CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) over Conventional Cancer Treatments

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. IMI.S377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. White ◽  
Marja J. Verhoef ◽  
B.J. Davison ◽  
Hal Gunn ◽  
Karen Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Prostate Cancer Treatment ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Little is known about men with prostate cancer who decline conventional treatment and use only complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Objectives To 1) explore why men decline conventional prostate cancer treatment and use CAM 2) understand the role of holistic healing in their care, and 3) document their recommendations for health care providers. Methods Semi-structured interviews and follow-up focus groups. Sample Twenty-nine men diagnosed with prostate cancer who declined all recommended conventional treatments and used CAM. Results Based on strong beliefs about healing, study participants took control by researching the risks of delaying or declining conventional treatment while using CAM as a first option. Most perceived conventional treatment to have a negative impact on quality of life. Participants sought healing in a broader mind, body, spirit context, developing individualized CAM approaches consistent with their beliefs about the causes of cancer. Most made significant lifestyle changes to improve their health. Spirituality was central to healing for one-third of the sample. Participants recommended a larger role for integrated cancer care. Conclusion Men who decline conventional prostate cancer treatment and use CAM only may benefit from a whole person approach to care where physicians support them to play an active role in healing while carefully monitoring their disease status.

Communication about Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Danish Oncological Settings: An Intervention Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 392-400
Author(s):  
Nina Nissen ◽  
Sara Seerup Laursen ◽  
Henriette Knold Rossau
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> Communication about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) between cancer patients and health professionals rarely takes place. This article reports on an intervention study that aimed to support communication about the use and effects of CAM between cancer patients and care providers. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The intervention consisted of the use of evidence-based information material (website; leaflet) about the effects of CAM for cancer. Focus groups with cancer patients, relatives, nurses and doctors (<i>n</i> = 50) determined the preferred content and format of materials and evaluated the intervention. The information material was informed by a related systematic metareview of literature. A survey identified patient participants’ CAM use, information sources, and the extent of communication about CAM before and after the intervention. <b><i>Results:</i></b> No significant impact of the intervention on communication about CAM for cancer patients, patients’ CAM use or sources of information was identified. Health professionals disseminated the leaflet only in response to patients raising the topic; the website was not accessed during consultations. The intervention and information materials were well received. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Cancer patients and care providers wish to improve communication about CAM. Nevertheless, patients and professionals wait for the other to broach the subject of CAM. This reflects a “culture of waiting.”

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