Complementary Medicine in the View of Medical Students: An Inquiry in the Prclinical and Clinical Stage of University Education

Author(s): Schumm, A., Bühler, K. -E.

Abstract: Introduction: Complementary healing methods are appreciated by many physicians and patients. How medical students, the future physicians, see these techniques. has been studied rarely by now. Objective: With this investigation the attitudes of medical students towards unconventional methods and possible changes of their view during university education should be studied. Methods: In 204 medical students in the preclinical and clinical stage of university education, age, sex, state of education, preferred field of specialization, and illness concept were asked by questionnaire together with an estimation of complementary medicine including 18 individual methods. Results: Complementary medicine as a whole is advocated by 85.6%, and its applicaton is considered convenient mainly in minor and chronic illnesses. Especially acupuncture, homeopathy, phytotherapy, and special diets are viewed positively, whereas fresh-cell therapy, bleeding, spiritual healing, ozone and dry-cell therapy are seen negatively. 'The students in the clinical stage of education assess nine methods more favorably and five more unfavorably than the students in the preclinical stage. Conclusion: Given a positive view of complementary medicine as a whole, the individual methods are seen differentially. In spite of only little consideration in the curriculum and the rejection by many lecturers, the positive attitude towards unconventional methods increases during university education.

Keyword(s): Einstellung von Studierenden

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