Attitudes and Uses of Alternative Medicine by Physicians at a Pediatric Hospital in Mexico

Abstract

Background: Several studies have described the physician’s attitudes, perceptions, knowledge and experience about the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), reporting among their results that these therapies are usually perceived as useful, which has favor the increase in its use and recommendation, both personally and in the medical practices. Despite the relevance that CAM has regained in the last years, in Mexico there are no studies developed about this topic nor in this population. Methodology: A descriptive and transversal study was developed. The participants answer a survey designed and validated for Mexican population (α = 0.72). The survey was applied to the doctors in a pediatric tertiary care hospital, the survey included demographic data, history of personal use of CAM, recommendation to patients and attitudes towards CAM. Averages, standard deviations and association statistics (χi2) were calculated. Results: A total of 249 physicians were included: 51% turned to CAM, primarily to treat acute conditions in a complementary manner to conventional treatment. A third of the participants recommended CAM to their patients. The use of CAM by the physician was the only factor related to their recommendation of these treatments. The most commonly used and recommended therapies by doctors were homeopathy and herbal medicine. 72% consider it useful to have knowledge in CAM and 67% want more information about these therapies. 51% agree that the CAM should be included in the medical career. Conclusions: Half of the respondents use CAM, and one-third recommend. The most used therapies were homeopathy and herbal medicine. Most doctors consider the knowledge about CAM useful and want to have more information, but only half of them agreed on its inclusion in the career of medicine.