CAM-education in the medical curriculum: Vision of medical students

Abstract

Objective Purpose of our study was to investigate the attitudes and knowledge of medical students towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at all eight medical universities in the Netherlands. Design Empirical quantitative research using a questionnaire survey. Methods In total 10,532 student members of the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG), at all eight universities in the Netherlands, were invited to complete a short questionnaire by email. The questions were divided into three parts. The questions in the first part were about self-reported use of CAM, scientific research skills to appraise the CAM literature and attitude, opinion and interests in CAM. The second part consisted of six questions asked about each of the nine most used CAM-therapies in the Netherlands. The six questions were about knowledge, effectiveness, existing and desired education, referral to CAM services and integration into the Dutch health care service. The third part were 30 statements about evidence-based-medicine, the side effects and safety of CAM, the place of CAM in the Dutch Health Care Service, CAM in the medical education, the position and visibility of CAM in professional education, reasons for using CAM, and the role and influence of the Royal Dutch Medical Association on the availability of CAM services. Results A total of 2004 medical students responded to our questionnaire. The average age of respondents was 22.7 year (SD: 3.9) and 71.9% were female. The most students (83%) said that doctors should be able to give patients objective information about CAM. The opinion of 69.9% was that more research must be done to establish the effectiveness and safety of CAM. The majority (74.2%) responded that they do not have enough knowledge about CAM and more than three quarters (76.9%) responded that doctors should have such knowledge about CAM. Two-third felt it is important that knowledge about CAM therapies should be taught at medical school while one-third felt it should be in the core medical education. Conclusions The result of this study shows that medical students in the Netherlands have a positive attitude towards CAM and think it should be part of their medical education.