Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of School of Health and Vocational School of Health students toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: Three hundred thirty-three (333) students studying at the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University School of Hea...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute 2016-12-01
Series:Journal of Pharmacopuncture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2016.19.036
_version_ 1811266962175557632
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of School of Health and Vocational School of Health students toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: Three hundred thirty-three (333) students studying at the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University School of Health and the Golhisar Vocational School of Health in Burdur, Turkey, were included in the study. Research data were collected by using a survey method based on the expressed opinions of the participants. Results: Of the participants, 69.7% were female and 97% were single (unmarried). Of cigarette users and those with chronic illnesses, 46.8% and 47.8%, respectively, used CAM. Those using CAM were statistically more likely to be female (P < 0.021), to have higher grades (P < 0.007), to be single (P < 0.005), to be vocational school of health graduates (P < 0.008), and to have fathers at work (P < 0.021). While 9.6% of the students thought CAM to be nonsense, 10.8% thought that the methods of CAM should be tried before consulting a doctor. Conclusion: A majority of the students in the study population were found to use complementary and alternative medicine, but that they lacked information about its methods. As a way to address this, CAM should be included in the curriculum of schools that provide health education, and CAM training programs should be given to healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge of CAM. In Turkey, many more studies should be performed to determine nurses’ and doctors’ knowledge of and attitudes about CAM methods so that they can give correct guidance to society and take more active responsibility in improving patient safety.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T20:53:43Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a29f5cf23952490c85c7d951cc7f1542
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2093-6966
2234-6856
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T20:53:43Z
publishDate 2016-12-01
publisher Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmacopuncture
spelling doaj.art-a29f5cf23952490c85c7d951cc7f15422022-12-22T03:17:03ZengKorean Pharmacopuncture InstituteJournal of Pharmacopuncture2093-69662234-68562016-12-0119434434910.3831/KPI.2016.19.036DHOCBS_2016_v19n4_344Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of School of Health and Vocational School of Health students toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: Three hundred thirty-three (333) students studying at the Mehmet Akif Ersoy University School of Health and the Golhisar Vocational School of Health in Burdur, Turkey, were included in the study. Research data were collected by using a survey method based on the expressed opinions of the participants. Results: Of the participants, 69.7% were female and 97% were single (unmarried). Of cigarette users and those with chronic illnesses, 46.8% and 47.8%, respectively, used CAM. Those using CAM were statistically more likely to be female (P < 0.021), to have higher grades (P < 0.007), to be single (P < 0.005), to be vocational school of health graduates (P < 0.008), and to have fathers at work (P < 0.021). While 9.6% of the students thought CAM to be nonsense, 10.8% thought that the methods of CAM should be tried before consulting a doctor. Conclusion: A majority of the students in the study population were found to use complementary and alternative medicine, but that they lacked information about its methods. As a way to address this, CAM should be included in the curriculum of schools that provide health education, and CAM training programs should be given to healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge of CAM. In Turkey, many more studies should be performed to determine nurses’ and doctors’ knowledge of and attitudes about CAM methods so that they can give correct guidance to society and take more active responsibility in improving patient safety.http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2016.19.036applicationscomplementary medicinediseasestudentsTurkey
spellingShingle Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
Journal of Pharmacopuncture
applications
complementary medicine
disease
students
Turkey
title Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
title_full Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
title_fullStr Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
title_full_unstemmed Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
title_short Should CAM and CAM Training Programs Be Included in the Curriculum of Schools That Provide Health Education?
title_sort should cam and cam training programs be included in the curriculum of schools that provide health education
topic applications
complementary medicine
disease
students
Turkey
url http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2016.19.036