Evaluation of University Students` Attitudes towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices: A Study at a University in Türkiye

Authors : Emine SARMAN, Şevval KOCABIYIK, Merve Betül KARACİF, Zahide Nur KARAKOYUNCU, Mustafa Samed UÇAR, Ahmet SAYAR, Çağrı YILMAZ

Pages : 50-57

Doi:10.53811/ijtcmr.1329693

View : 93 | Download : 64

Publication Date : 2023-08-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of students continuing their education in the medical and dental faculties, as well as the nursing and physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, towards traditional and complementary medicine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T&CM); practices. Material-Method: The study population consisted of students enrolled in the medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation departments of the Faculty of Health Sciences. To reach more participants, the questionnaires and scales were transferred to the Google Forms application, and the survey link was sent to the students via platforms such as email, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 25.0 package program, and a significance level of p<0.05 was determined. Results: In our study, which included 1085 students, 64.1% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=695); were female and 35.9% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=390); male. The best-known T&CM methods among the participants were reflexology insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=374, 34.5%);, osteopathy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=214, 19.7%);, mesotherapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=204, 18.8%);, hypnosis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=203, 18.7%);, cupping therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=196, 18.1%);, chiropractic insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=196, 18.1%);, music therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=194, 17.9%);, apitherapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=188, 17.3%);, herbal therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=176, 16.2%);, prolotherapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=175, 16.1%);, and ozone therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=160, 14.7%);. Leech therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=153, 14.1%);, homeopathy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=149, 13.7%);, and maggot therapy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=110, 10.1%); were found to be less known. Conclusion: It was observed that students lack sufficient knowledge about T&CM practices but are interested in receiving education on the subject. Adjustments to the current curriculum of medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation departments would positively contribute to students\` attitudes and approaches towards T&CM practices.
Keywords : Traditional and complementary medicine, medical faculty, dental faculty, faculty of health sciences