Medical Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Author Information
Author(s): DeSylvia Dawn, Stuber Margaret, Fung Cha Chi, Bazargan-Hejazi Shahrzad, Cooper Edwin
Primary Institution: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
Hypothesis
What are the knowledge, attitudes, and usage patterns of medical students regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?
Conclusion
Medical students at UCLA are familiar with common CAM modalities but show less favorable attitudes towards them as they progress through their training.
Supporting Evidence
- Third-year students reported less personal use of CAM than first-year students.
- Female students were more likely to recommend CAM than male students in the first two years.
- Students' attitudes towards CAM became more negative as they progressed through medical school.
Takeaway
Medical students know about some alternative medicine options, but as they learn more, they tend to be less positive about them.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using established questionnaires to assess familiarity, attitudes, and usage of CAM among medical students.
Potential Biases
Self-selection bias may skew the findings due to the nature of survey participation.
Limitations
The study used a convenience sample from one institution, which may not be generalizable, and had a self-selection bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included first, second, and third-year medical students from UCLA.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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