Knowledge of, attitudes toward, and experience of complementary and alternative medicine in Western medicine- and oriental medicine-trained physicians in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
We compared knowledge of, attitudes toward, and experience with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among Western medicine-trained doctors (WMDs) and Oriental medicine-trained doctors (OMDs).


METHODS
In Korea, 502 WMDs and 500 OMDs were interviewed with a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
OMDs held more favorable attitudes toward CAM than did WMDs. OMDs possessed a deeper understanding of and greater experience with CAM. OMDs more readily endorsed health beliefs congruent with CAM.


CONCLUSIONS
In the future, CAM can be more readily used by OMDs than by WMDs. Because evidence for the effectiveness of CAM remains sparse, more research is needed for the prudent use of CAM in Korea. An education and training system for potential CAM providers remains to be developed.
Lee
Sang-Il
SI
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Khang
Young-Ho
YH
Lee
Moo-Song
MS
Kang
Weechang
W
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires