Knowledge level and attitude towards complementary and alternative treatment methods among medical students: a cross-sectional survey study in Turkey

Abstract

Objective People often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in Turkey, but reliability of the application of these methods is controversial. Considering the role of medical students (i.e. physician candidates) in sustainable health, their perspectives on CAM methods are important. This report explores the level of knowledge, experience, and preferences for the use of CAM methods among medical school students. Material and Methods A survey about the use of CAM and interest in CAM methods was applied to 101 first-year and 87 fifth-year medical school students. The binary and multinomial logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results Sixteen percent of the first-year and 9% of the fifth-year students were familiar with “The Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medical Practices” published by the Ministry of Health of Turkey in 2014. While participants reported the most familiarity with acupuncture treatment, they were the most unfamiliar with prolotherapy among all CAM methods. Seeking advice from a licensed physician before applying CAM methods was the general agreement among the participants. Interest in learning and practicing hypnosis was the highest-rated CAM method among the participants. Conclusions Increasing knowledge and awareness of CAM methods by including them into the medical curriculum would be essential for the correct use of CAM methods.