Differences in Knowledge of and Attitudes regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Health Care Profession Students in Japan / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Objective</b>: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare levels of knowledge of and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in different groups of health care profession students.<br> <b>Methods</b>: The subjects of this study were 1465 students of nursing, medicine, radiologic science, laboratory science, nutrition, dentistry, oral health and welfare, and pharmaceutical science. We used a questionnaire to obtain information on knowledge, sources of information, interest, personal use, willingness to take lectures, opinions regarding effectiveness and willingness to recommend for 17 different CAM modalities.<br> <b>Results</b>: Knowledge of CAM differed depending on the CAM therapy in all students. Nursing students had high levels of interest in massage, aromatherapy, yoga and chiropractic. The proportions of nursing students with high levels of interest in these CAM therapies were significantly higher than the proportions in other groups of health profession students (p < 0.05). In addition, proportions of nursing students who had positive opinions regarding the usefulness of massage, chiropractic, psychotherapy, yoga and aromatherapy were significantly higher than the proportions in other groups of heath care profession students (p < 0.05).<br> <b>Conclusions</b>: Nursing students tend to have positive and favorable attitudes toward CAM compared to other groups of health care profession students. If nursing students receive lectures on CAM in their curriculum, they may use CAM in clinical care and thereby contribute to an accumulation of evidence on the benefits of CAM as well as to improvement in the quality of medical service.<br>