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Medical students' attitudes about complementary and alternative medicine
1Department of Psychology, University College London, UK. a.furnham@ucl.ac.uk
Summary
Medical students" attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) shift during training. Early-year students show more interest in CAM than later-year students, indicating educational influence.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Background:
- Attitudes toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among medical students are not well understood.
- Understanding how medical training influences these attitudes is crucial for future healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare medical students' attitudes toward CAM across two British medical schools.
- To assess the impact of different training stages (first-year vs. third-year) on these attitudes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was conducted.
- 311 medical students from Newcastle and University College London participated.
- Surveys assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding CAM.
Main Results:
- Third-year students perceived CAM as less effective and showed less interest in CAM training compared to first-year students.
- Students at Newcastle exhibited more positive attitudes toward CAM than those at University College London.
- Factor analysis revealed six distinct attitude components regarding CAM.
Conclusions:
- Medical education significantly influences students' attitudes toward CAM.
- Skepticism towards CAM increases as students progress through their medical training.