Evaluation of Attitude and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Doctoral Graduates of Mazandaran University of Medical Science

Information about the use and attitude of medical students towards complementary medicine is needed to determine its place in conventional medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the attitude and use of complementary medicine in general and specialized doctoral graduates of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.

I n this descriptive-analytical study, the attitudes of medical graduates were determined with a 23-item questionnaire and the use of 17 complementary medicine methods with a checklist, and the level of satisfaction at four levels. Quantitative variables were analyzed with ANOVA and qualitatively from Chi 2.

The attitude score of 276 participants in this study was 73 ± 9.2 (39 to 79). There was no statistical difference between the attitudes of the four educated groups (p=0 .436). 80 people (29%) believe that complementary medicine treatment methods are placebo effect and 103 people (37.3%) believe that there is no scientific evidence for the safety of complementary medicine use. 66 people (23.9%) had a positive attitude towards complementary medicine and 23 people (8.4 percent) had a negative attitude, 91 people (33 percent) used at least one of the complementary medicine methods. The most common method of massage therapy was 33 people (12 %). 38(41.8 %) people of the users of massage, acupressure, meditation and energy therapy methods had good satisfaction.

A quarter of doctoral students had a positive attitude towards complementary medicine methods. Considering the widespread use of complementary medicine methods by people in different societies of the world and the interference of these methods with conventional medicine in the matter of care and treatment. It is recommended to develop a curriculum and research program to familiarize and improve the attitude of all students of medical sciences towards complementary medicine methods.