Positive Health Online

Abstract

HOPPER and COHEN, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia write that despite the popularity of complementary therapies with the public, knowledge and use of these therapies among doctors appear to be limited . The authors examined the attitudes of medical students toward complementary therapies .

Background

Methodology

The authors distributed a questionnaire to 800 1st, 3rd and 5th-year medical students at two universities in Melbourne, Australia.

Results

Although Australian medical students were positive toward complementary therapies, their self-reported knowledge was low, with 56% having no knowledge of the principles of complementary therapies . Attitudes toward various therapies varied widely; students had little knowledge of chiropractic and naturopathy, the two therapies most commonly used by Australians . Students consistently scored meditation, massage and acupuncture highest regarding knowledge, perceived usefulness, intended patterns of referral following graduation and desire to education in the undergraduate degree curriculum.

Conclusion

Where medical course included tuition about complementary therapies, students were more positive. A single lecture on complementary therapies was found to have significant impact upon the views of medical students. Medical students have a high level of interest in complementary therapies which is not being satisfied by their undergraduate curricula .

References

Hopper I and Cohen M. Complementary therapies and the medical profession: a study of medical students' attitudes. Altern Ther Health Med 4(3): 68-73. May 1998.

Comment

All the above research demonstrates that despite the popularity and demand for complementary therapies from the public, attitudes and practices of the medical profession have been slow to teach medical students, learn these methodologies, let alone integrate complementary therapies into their practices or even to refer patients to such practitioners, even when they are requested for such referrals. Is this the old story of the dinosaur, or is it the ostrich burying its head in the sand?