Perceptions of complementary health approaches: A cross-sectional comparison of clinical practice and research only...

Complementary health approaches (CHAs) encompass a diverse range of practices used both independently and alongside conventional medical treatments. Understanding how graduate students across disciplines perceive CHAs is important because these trainees will occupy roles as clinical practitioners, medical researchers, healthcare policy makers, and consumers. The purpose of this research was to (a) explore differences in perceptions of CHAs across disciplines, (b) examine differences between medical versus mental health trainees' willingness to recommend CHAs, and (c) determine whether an association exists between descriptive terminology and willingness to recommend CHAs.

Ratings of familiarity, perceptions of legitimacy, and willingness to recommend CHAs were examined among graduate trainees (N = 416). Responses from (a) clinical practice versus (b) research only trainees; and, within clinical fields, (c) medical versus (d) mental health trainees were compared via sequential rank agreement.

Clinical practice trainees were more familiar with CHAs than research only trainees. Mental health trainees were most familiar with CHAs and perceived them as more legitimate than medical trainees. Perceptions of CHA legitimacy positively correlated with willingness to recommend across disciplines. Medical trainees associated CHAs with the term "alternative; " mental health trainees characterized them as "complementary." Association with "complementary" correlated with increased willingness to recommend.

Mental health trainees characterize CHAs as "complementary; " they are also most likely to perceive CHAs as legitimate and to recommend them in practice. Clinical trainees and providers might be more likely to integrate CHAs into practice if characterized as "legitimate" and "complementary."