title: Resourcing the clinical complementary medicine information needs of Australian medical students: Results of a grounded theory study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify Australian medical students' complementary medicine information needs. Thirty medical students from 10 medical education faculties across Australian universities were recruited. Data were generated using in-depth semi-structured interviews and constructivist grounded theory method was used to analyze and construct data. Students sought complementary medicine information from a range of inadequate sources, such as pharmacological texts, Internet searches, peer-reviewed medical journals, and drug databases. The students identified that many complementary medicine resources may not be regarded as objective, reliable, differentiated, or comprehensive, leaving much that medical education needs to address. Most students sought succinct, easily accessible, evidence-based information to inform safe and appropriate clinical decisions about complementary medicines. A number of preferred resources were identified that can be recommended and actively promoted to medical students. Therefore, specific, evidence-based complementary medicine databases and secondary resources should be subscribed and recommended to medical schools and students, to assist meeting professional responsibilities regarding complementary medicines. These findings may help inform the development of appropriate medical information resources regarding complementary medicines.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Rural Health, Monash University, Moe, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Templeman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Rural Health, Monash University, Moe, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anske
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: complementary medicines; evidence-based medicine; information resources; medical practice; quality use of medicines