Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 09–10
The results of a survey of decision makers at German medical schools in 1997 demonstrated that most respondents were in favour of integrating CAM into medical school curricula but only a minority implemented these into their schools. The aims of this study were to evaluate views on CAM from decision makers at medical schools in German-speaking countries and to examine the extent to which CAM has already been integrated into the medical school system.
In 2003 a questionnaire was sent to 1017 department directors at medical schools in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
A total of 487 questionnaires (48%) were returned. Forty per cent of the respondents had a positive opinion of CAM, whereas 28% had a neutral and 29% had a negative opinion (3% were unsure). The CAM therapies viewed most positively were acupuncture (53%), osteopathy (52%) and naturopathy (36%). The majority of respondents were in favour of integrating CAM into the medical system and using it in research (85%), teaching (84%) and treating patients (60%). Only 162 respondents (34%) indicated that CAM treatment methods had been integrated into the curriculum at their medical schools. The main focus of CAM integration was on patient treatment (26%), followed by research (19%) and education (18%).
Compared to the 1997 survey, more respondents were in favour of integrating CAM into medical school curricula. However, the integration of CAM into medical schools is still limited.
