• Christina Bocock, Anthony I Reeder, David Perez, and Judy Trevena.
• Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago.
• Integr Cancer Ther. 2011 Sep 1; 10 (3): 280-8.

UnlabelledAIMS. This study aimed to give an up-to-date description of the views and knowledge that health professionals in New Zealand (NZ) have about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its use in the context of integrative medicine.Study DesignA self-administered questionnaire.MethodsDoctors in the Otago region of New Zealand (n = 235 out of 395, 59% response rate) answered questions addressing attitudes toward the principle of integrative medicine, attitudes indigenous Ma-ori holistic views of health, and attitudes about CAM. Information on physician demographics was also gathered.ResultsAlmost all doctors (95%) agreed that they should address all aspects of a patient's health, whereas around 60% agreed that CAM can be integrated into a treatment regime to provide the best care for a patient. Most (93%) agreed that in a NZ context, it is important to be aware of Ma-ori holistic views of health. Doctors had many concerns about CAM, and only 26% personally used any CAM therapies themselves. However, many doctors wanted to learn more about CAM (58%) and Ma-ori holistic views of health (62%). Doctors who believed that they "knew enough" about CAM were more likely to ask about it and to recommend it to patients.ConclusionIntegrative medicine is increasingly being accepted in medical practice, although many doctors still do not agree with the use of CAM. There is a need for increased patient-doctor discussions of CAM use. Doctors' lack of knowledge about CAM may be a barrier to communication and should be addressed with specific medical training.

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