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Medical students' knowledge, perceptions, and interest in complementary and alternative medicine
Kah Poh Loh1, Hatem Ghorab, Eric Clarke
1Medical Faculty, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. melissalkp@gmail.com
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
|October 19, 2012
Summary
Irish medical students desire more complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education. Most believe CAM knowledge is crucial for their careers and want it integrated into the curriculum, particularly during preclinical years.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Background:
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a growing sector within healthcare.
- No prior studies have assessed Irish medical students' knowledge, interest, or attitudes towards CAM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot a study informing Irish medical schools about the necessity of incorporating CAM into their curricula.
- To gauge medical student perspectives on CAM education and its relevance.
Main Methods:
- A survey, adapted from international studies, was distributed to all undergraduate and graduate entry program students at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
- Statistical analysis of the collected questionnaire data was performed using SPSS software.
Main Results:
- A 20.1% survey completion rate was achieved. A significant majority (78.4%) recognized the importance of CAM knowledge for future physicians.
- Over 65% of students felt their medical education lacked sufficient CAM content, with 50.2% advocating for its inclusion in the curriculum, preferably during preclinical years.
- Students reported minimal knowledge of most CAM modalities but showed high interest in massage, acupuncture, and meditation. Religious students exhibited greater CAM interest (p<0.05), and attitudes towards CAM were generally positive, though clinical students showed less willingness to use CAM (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Irish medical schools should systematically integrate CAM education into conventional curricula.
- This integration is vital for adequately preparing future physicians in the evolving healthcare landscape.
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