title: [Alternative and complementary medicine from the primary care physician's viewpoint].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The patients initiate the use of complementary and alternative medicine and this often remains hidden from their primary care physician.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore general practitioners' knowledge and attitude towards complementary and alternative medicine, and study the need and appropriate forms of education, as well as ask their opinion on integration of alternative medicine into mainstream medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A voluntary anonymous questionnaire was used on two conferences for general practitioners organized by the Family Medicine Department of Semmelweis University. Complementary and alternative medicine was defined by the definition of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and certified modalities were all listed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  194 general practitioners answered the questionnaire (39.8% response rate). 14% of the responders had licence in at least one of the complementary and alternative therapies, 45% used complementary and alternative therapy in their family in case of illness. It was the opinion of the majority (91.8%) that it was necessary to be familiar with every method used by their patients, however, 82.5% claimed not to have enough knowledge in complementary medicine. Graduate and postgraduate education in the field was thought to be necessary by 86% of the responders; increased odds for commitment in personal education was found among female general practitioners, less than 20 years professional experience and personal experience of alternative medicine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that general practitioners would like to know more about complementary and alternative medicine modalities used by their patients. They consider education of medical professionals necessary and a special group is willing to undergo further education in the field.
authors.affiliation: I. Sebészeti Klinika, Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar Budapest, Üllői út 78., 1082.
authors.forename: Sándor Árpád
authors.initials: SÁ
authors.lastname: Soós
authors.forename: Ajándék
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eőry
authors.forename: Ajándok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eőry
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harsányi
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalabay
mesh_terms: 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; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: complementary therapies; családorvos; data collection; family practice; felmérés; integrative medicine; integratív orvoslás; naturopathy; nem-konvencionális gyógymódok; természetgyógyászat