Positive Health Online

Abstract

CHEZ and colleagues, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FLA, USA, assessed the opinions and knowledge of medical students on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a medical school with no course on the subject.

Background

Methodology

Third-year medical students were offered a questionnaire on CAM during their 8-week rotation on obstetrics and gynaecology.

Results

The majority of students had some experience/knowledge of CAM therapies, were aware that most Americans used CAM, believed that some CAM therapies were useful, did not think such therapies were a risk to public health, and had little knowledge or understanding of safety issues concerning 10 common CAM therapies. Most students would neither refer patients for CAM therapies nor dissuade them from using them. Male and female student responses were similar. Responses did not differ with the time of year of the rotation.

Conclusion

Medical students showed interest in the clinical usefulness of 10 CAM therapies but had insufficient knowledge regarding safety issues . Doctors would be better prepared to answer patients' questions about CAM if such topics were included in the medical school curriculum .

References

Chez RA et al. A survey of medical students' opinions about complementary and alternative medicine. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 185 (3): 754-7. Sep 2001.