Strengths, weaknesses, and development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the health system of Hong Kong: through the eyes of future Western doctors.
Five focus group discussions were conducted with 28 (fourth-year) medical students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to explore attitudes to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its impact on the future of medical training. Most students perceived that TCM was a good alternative for certain health problems but lack of scientific evidence and the absence of regulation were major barriers. Students were concerned about the limitations of TCM, but identified their need to understand TCM to effectively communicate with their patients. Paralleled with the experience in the United Kingdom and other countries, if traditional and conventional doctors are to work effectively side by side, current medical education and health service arrangements need to change.
Wong
William C W
WC
Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. cwwong@cuhk.edu.hk
Lee
Albert
A
Wong
Samuel Y S
SY
Wu
Sui Chu
SC
Robinson
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000639:trends*; D010819:Physician's Role; D015980:Public Health Practice; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires