Integrative medicine: implementation and evaluation of a professional development program using experiential learning...

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Medical Education
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Background:

• Growing patient interest in CAM necessitates physicians' understanding and willingness to discuss/recommend these modalities.
• Conventional physicians often lack knowledge and hold negative attitudes towards CAM.
• Integrative medical practice requires bridging conventional and CAM approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance physicians' awareness of CAM.
• To initiate positive attitudinal changes towards CAM among physicians.
• To explore the effectiveness of experiential learning and conceptual change teaching in professional development.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with a pre-post design was conducted.
• An 8-hour intervention program utilized experiential and conceptual change educational approaches.
• Forty-eight cardiologists were assessed via questionnaire before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• The participant group showed significant positive changes in CAM conceptions and attitudes compared to the control group.
• Physicians' willingness to integrate CAM into their practices increased significantly.
• Research evidence was identified as the most crucial factor influencing physicians' willingness to adopt CAM.

Conclusions:

• An 8-hour intervention using experiential and conceptual change methods can effectively increase physician knowledge and alter attitudes towards integrative medicine.
• Experiential learning of CAM modalities can lead to positive outcomes and increased physician acceptance.
• Professional development programs can be successfully delivered with the collaboration of local CAM practitioners.