Consensus views on competencies and teaching methods for an interprofessional curriculum on complementary and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Complementary Medicine
• Integrative Health

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is vital for patient-centered care.
• Healthcare professionals often lack sufficient training in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM).
• Medical schools require structured programs for CIM education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential competencies for interprofessional CIM training.
• To determine effective teaching methods for CIM in medical schools.
• To enhance undergraduate education in CIM.

Main Methods:

• A three-round Delphi study involving 65 German-speaking experts.
• Competency assessment using Likert scales and free-text input.
• Identification of teaching methods through workshops and surveys.

Main Results:

• Experts prioritized respectful patient interaction and thorough medical history taking.
• Key competencies include assessing CIM, collaborative practice, and empathetic patient involvement.
• Effective teaching methods involve case-based discussions and online theory modules.

Conclusions:

• Consensus was achieved on competency-based CIM education despite expert diversity.
• The findings support the integration of interprofessional CIM training in undergraduate curricula.
• This can improve healthcare professionals' ability to support patients' CIM goals.