A Survey Of Attitude Towards Complementary And Alternative Medicine Among First Year Undergraduate Medical Students In Belgaum.

ABSTRACT

Background: More than 90 % of Indians rely on the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for primary health care. However, physicians often fail to communicate with their patients about its use as CAM is not included in the medical curriculum in India. Hence, initial needs assessment for curricular change in the medical schools is the need of time. The aim of the present study is to determine the attitude towards CAM among first year undergraduate medical students in Belgaum. Methodology: A survey questionnaire was administered to first year medical students at JN Medical College, Belgaum. The questionnaire contained attitudes toward CAM and Integrative medicine (IM). All responses were scored on a 5- point Likert scale and the data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Nearly 53% and 76% of the students (n=150) have showed positive attitude towards CAM and integrative medicine respectively. Coastal group of students showed more positive attitude towards integrative medicine compared to that of interior group (P=0.0002). Conclusion: In the context of the current upsurge of CAM practice worldwide, a survey is the need of time to gauge attitude amongst medical students. In the present study, students have showed positive attitude favoring inclusion of CAM topics in the medical curriculum in India.