Isr Med Assoc J. 2003 Feb; 5(2): 139-42.

Attitude of medical students to the introduction of complementary medicine into the medical curriculum in Israel.

Oberbaum M, Notzer N, Abramowitz R, Branski D.

Center for Integrated Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. oberbaum@netvision.net.il

BACKGROUND: Complementary medicine is gaining in public popularity, yet medical school curricula usually ignore it. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether senior medical students are interested in learning principles of complementary or alternative medicine, to check their degree of familiarity with it, and to suggest a format for such studies in the medical curriculum. METHODS: Senior medical students (n = 117) were surveyed by an anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the senior medical students were interested in studying complementary or alternative medicine in medical school, and 65% were interested in applying these techniques to treat patients. Eighty-seven percent of students were familiar with some techniques of complementary medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Senior medical students are interested in studying complementary and alternative medicine in medical school and in applying these techniques in practice.