Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of OMU Faculty of Medicine residents towards traditional and complementary medicine (TCM): A cross-sectional study

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of resident physicians working at OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital about TCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted with clinical science assistants working at OMU Faculty of Medicine between 15 July and 15 December 2021. A survey containing questions to determine the clinical and demographic characteristics of the participants and their knowledge, behavior and attitudes towards TCM applications was applied to the participants. RESULTS: A total of 261 physicians participated. The average age was 29.4±2.6 years, and 51.7% (n=135) were male. 82% of the participants were studying in internal medicine sciences. The average length of time as a physician was found to be 4.4 years, and the average length of time as a physician in the total branch was 2.6 years. Cupping therapy was the most known method with 55.6%. The most TCM information source was the internet with 62.6%. The most frequently used method (19.2%) was phytotherapy; the most frequently recommended (16.5%) was phytotherapy; the most formally trained (4.2%), cupping therapy; the most desired formal training (41%) was acupuncture; the most frequently declared method (11.9%) as another TCM method was diet. 36.4% of the participants found GETAT useful. 82% thought that these methods should only be applied by trained physicians and 43.7% thought that they should be subject to SSI reimbursement. 54% thought that training for these methods could be provided in medical school and 68.2% during the residency period. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the level of GETAT knowledge among assistant physicians was low. Although the majority of participants had a positive attitude towards GETAT, they had low rates of application, implementation and recommendation.