[Attitudes and exposuer of Israeli medical students to complementary medicine--a survey]

Abstract

The use of alternative medicine is increasing rapidly and currently includes more than a third of the adult population in the US. Hence, two-thirds of US medical schools are presently including courses in complementary or alternative medicine as part of their curriculum. We addressed the deans of the four medical schools in Israel in order to determine the exposure of Israeli medical students to theoretical and practical aspects of complementary therapies within the curriculum, as well as future plans to include such programs. We also surveyed 154 medical students attending the Hebrew University medical school in order to ascertain interest and knowledge regarding complementary medicine, as well as their views on the introduction of these topics as part of their educational program. Most of the medical students were interested in learning about complementary therapies. Ninety-three percent stated that they would like to include an elective course in complementary medicine as part of the medical school program. Fifty four percent of the students surveyed had prior theoretical knowledge of complementary therapies through personal reading or had practical experience through treatments or courses. The present curriculum of Israeli medical schools, excluding Ben Gurion University, does not meet the students' growing interests in complementary medicine. However, all schools are considering the possibility of including these topics in future educational programs.