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Table 3 Health Related Attitudes of Students towards CAM

From: A cross-sectional assessment of knowledge, attitudes and self-perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine among pharmacy and non-pharmacy university students

Sr. #

Scores

Pharmacy

n = 437

Non pharmacy

n = 500

p-value

1

All practitioners of CAM should be medically qualified

3.87 ± 2.63

3.76 ± 1.17

0.896

2

I am interested in exploring new CAM modalities

3.29 ± 0.94

3.14 ± 1.00

0.038*

3

Women have more tendency to CAM than men

3.23 ± 0.98

3.22 ± 0.95

0.784

4

On an average, practitioners of CAM make less money than other doctors

3.45 ± 2.14

3.25 ± 1.01

0.084

5

I believe in alternative approaches in health area

3.40 ± 0.94

3.24 ± 0.99

0.006*

6

Most Practitioners of CAM receive a thorough training

3.16 ± 1.74

2.90 ± 1.09

0.008*

7

Treating a condition using CAM is safer than using modern methods

3.07 ± 1.01

3.01 ± 0.99

0.298

8

You need to be “gifted” to carry out CAM

3.04 ± 1.41

2.86 ± 1.08

0.026*

9

CAM has low status within medicine

3.31 ± 1.74

3.34 ± 0.95

0.135

10

CAM is only effective in treating minor complaints.

3.15 ± 1.00

3.24 ± 0.95

0.151

11

CAM is fairly unscientific.

3.04 ± 0.97

3.17 ± 1.02

0.028*

12

CAM has advanced considerably in recent years in understanding of illness and diseases

3.34 ± 1.74

3.15 ± 0.99

0.040*

13

Practitioners of CAM are more prepared to listen to their patients

3.19 ± 1.03

3.41 ± 0.94

0.002*

14

Patients on CAM hardly ever get better

2.89 ± 0.97

3.15 ± 0.99

0.0005**

15

Despite considerable research, there are few applicable results in CAM.

3.15 ± 0.94

3.30 ± 0.95

0.011*

16

CAM should be taught in medical school.

3.45 ± 1.74

3.46 ± 1.03

0.218

17

A surprising number of patients claim its effective at curing their illness

3.37 ± 0.96

3.19 ± 0.99

0.002*

18

CAM is more cost-effective than modern medicine

3.09 ± 1.43

3.12 ± 1.01

0.299

19

The reason for the success of CAM is mainly due to treating the whole person

3.26 ± 0.89

3.04 ± 1.09

0.001**

20

A doctor should know CAM methods

3.59 ± 1.65

3.52 ± 1.06

0.748

21

I believe that CAM may have positive effect on general health outcomes

3.19 ± 1.04

3.02 ± 1.09

0.008*

22

It is important to have a basic understanding of CAM before using them

3.60 ± 0.95

3.65 ± 0.99

0.209

23

Patients may disregard or even avoid doctors and health care professionals who do not understand their health beliefs.

3.39 ± 2.21

3.46 ± 1.11

0.020*

24

Herbal medicine is unsafe and ineffective.

2.54 ± 1.03

2.53 ± 1.06

0.821

25

Self-care and interest in our own health is one reason that people are drawn to CAM

3.26 ± 0.97

3.33 ± 0.96

0.393

26

Providing information about herbal medicine is part of a pharmacist’s professional responsibility.

3.43 ± 1.06

3.53 ± 0.93

0.206

27

Providing information about herbal medicine is part of a doctor’s professional responsibility.

3.27 ± 1.03

3.28 ± 1.07

0.900

28

It is important to consult a health professional before using CAM.

3.53 ± 0.98

3.62 ± 0.99

0.111

  1. Mann-Whitney U test were applied at a level of significance p ≤ 0.05
  2. Responses were based on a 5 point Likert-type scale with 1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neutral 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree
  3. Mean Attitude scores greater than 3 (midpoint/neutral score) were treated as high and below 3 as low mean score