Gender differences among medical students in attitudes to learning about complementary and alternative medicine.
OBJECTIVE
To explore gender differences in attitudes to CAM among Year 1, 2 and 3 medical students.


METHODS
Survey; seven-item self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Plenary lectures at the start of semester 2 of the academic year at the University of Birmingham Medical School.


RESULTS
35.6% of 662 students were male and 64.4% female. Females were more likely than males to feel CAM has an important role in healthcare (p < 0.001). This difference increased through the medical course (p < 0.05). Females gave a more positive rating than males to the use of five therapies in healthcare (p < 001). Females were more positive than males about learning the theory (p < 0.001) and practice (p < 0.001) of CAM and a greater amount of CAM curriculum time (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
If CAM teaching is optional females may be more likely to choose it. An unexpected consequence of more women than men entering medical school may be a positive impact on the development of integrated medicine.
Greenfield
S M
SM
Department of Primary Care & General Practice, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Brown
R
R
Dawlatly
S L
SL
Reynolds
J A
JA
Roberts
S
S
Dawlatly
R J
RJ
D001290:Attitude; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*