Unconventional medicine teaching at the Universities of the European Union

The recent rapid increase in demand for and use of unconventional medicine requires an adequate medical education. In the United States, 64% of medical schools offer undergraduate courses. No information is available about similar courses at European universities.

To document the incidence of educational courses on unconventional medicine offered by the European universities and their topic content.

Mail survey, which consisted of two questionnaires and was conducted in 1999 (January-June). The first questionnaire was sent to the universities' Rectorats, the second one to the faculties or lecturers indicated by the replies to the first questionnaire.

The Universities listed by the Confederation of European Union Rectors' Conference.

Courses offered at European Universities, both at medical faculties and at other faculties.

Five hundred and fifty (550) universities were contacted. Replies were received from 326 (59%); 141 have a faculty of medicine and 107 (76%) of them replied. We also received answers from 29 faculties of health sciences. In addition we received 190 (50%) answers from 380 other miscellaneous universities. Courses on unconventional medicine were offered by 43 (40%) medical schools, 21 (72%) health sciences faculties, and by 15 (8%) other faculties. Topics covered encompassed a wide range of techniques (33), from homeopathy to shamanism.

Unconventional medicine courses are widely represented at European universities. They cover a wide range of therapies. Many of them are used clinically. Research work is underway at several faculties.