Examination of family physicians' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about traditional and complementary medicine practices in Diyarbakır province

Introduction and Aim: In the last 20-30 years, interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has increased both globally and in our country. The use of CAM and its role in primary healthcare impose additional responsibilities on family physicians. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of family physicians working in Diyarbakır regarding CAM. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study applied a questionnaire to family physicians that inquired about their sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding CAM, as well as the Complementary Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (CMAQ) and the CAM Health Belief Questionnaire (CHBQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0. Results: A total of 273 family physicians participated in the study, with a mean age of 42.12 years. Of the physicians, 57.9% stated that they did not have sufficient knowledge about CAM, while 72.2% were aware of the Ministry of Health-certified CAM programs, though only 15.4% had received formal training. A total of 53.8% of participants did not view CAM as an alternative to modern medicine, while 62.6% believed it contributed positively to modern medical practice. Of the participants, 13.9% had practiced CAM, and 21.2% had referred patients to CAM services. Additionally, 45.8% recommended CAM, and 60.4% expressed a desire to receive certified training in this field. A total of 97.1% believed that CAM should only be performed by physicians, and 98.2%, 97.4%, and 95.2% were familiar with acupuncture, leech therapy, and ozone therapy, respectively. A total of 94.9% believed CAM was used for a healthy lifestyle, while 71.1% said it was used for aesthetic purposes. Most of the physicians obtained information about CAM from newspapers/magazines (63%) and television (60.8%). The average CMAQ score was 103.25, and the CHBQ score was 45.52. Female physicians scored significantly higher on the CHBQ compared to males (p=0.029). Physicians who believed they had sufficient knowledge of CAM and those who had received training scored significantly higher on the CMAQ and its subscales, particularly in the dimensions of dissatisfaction with modern medicine (p<0.001). There was also a positive correlation between CHBQ and CMAQ subscales, including holistic health views (p<0.001). Internal consistency for both scales was high, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.806 for CMAQ and 0.843 for CHBQ. Conclusion: It was concluded that physicians have strong beliefs about CAM, and their attitudes towards it are progressing positively. Keywords: Complementary Medicine, Attitude, Health Knowledge, Primary Health Care, Family Physicians