Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Integrative medicine (IM) combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical school education. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the curriculum via knowledge and attitude surveys regarding IM among students.
METHODS: A mandatory short IM curriculum across all years of medical school was created and taught by IM professionals and physician faculty members with expertise in integrative therapies. Graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 completed the same survey in their first and third years of medical school. Paired data analysis was done, and only students who completed surveys at both time points were included in final analyses.
RESULTS: Of 52 students in each class, 17 (33%) in the class of 2015 and 22 (42%) in the class of 2016 completed both surveys. After the IM curriculum, students' knowledge of and comfort with several IM therapies-biofeedback, mindfulness, and the use of St. John's wort-improved significantly. Students' personal health practices also improved, including better sleep, exercise, and stress management for the class of 2015. Students graduating in 2016 reported decreased alcohol use in their third year compared with their first year.
CONCLUSION: It is feasible to incorporate IM education into undergraduate medical education, and this is associated with improvement in students' knowledge of IM and personal health practices.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 442-449 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of integrative medicine |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2017 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Incorporation of integrative medicine education into undergraduate medical education : a longitudinal study. / Mahapatra, Saswati; Bhagra, Anjali; Fekadu, Bisrat; Li, Zhuo; Bauer, Brent A; Wahner-Roedler, Dietlind L.
In: Journal of integrative medicine, Vol. 15, No. 6, 01.11.2017, p. 442-449.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Incorporation of integrative medicine education into undergraduate medical education
T2 - a longitudinal study
AU - Mahapatra, Saswati
AU - Bhagra, Anjali
AU - Fekadu, Bisrat
AU - Li, Zhuo
AU - Bauer, Brent A
AU - Wahner-Roedler, Dietlind L.
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Integrative medicine (IM) combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical school education. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the curriculum via knowledge and attitude surveys regarding IM among students.METHODS: A mandatory short IM curriculum across all years of medical school was created and taught by IM professionals and physician faculty members with expertise in integrative therapies. Graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 completed the same survey in their first and third years of medical school. Paired data analysis was done, and only students who completed surveys at both time points were included in final analyses.RESULTS: Of 52 students in each class, 17 (33%) in the class of 2015 and 22 (42%) in the class of 2016 completed both surveys. After the IM curriculum, students' knowledge of and comfort with several IM therapies-biofeedback, mindfulness, and the use of St. John's wort-improved significantly. Students' personal health practices also improved, including better sleep, exercise, and stress management for the class of 2015. Students graduating in 2016 reported decreased alcohol use in their third year compared with their first year.CONCLUSION: It is feasible to incorporate IM education into undergraduate medical education, and this is associated with improvement in students' knowledge of IM and personal health practices.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Integrative medicine (IM) combines complementary medical approaches into conventional medicine and considers the whole person. We implemented a longitudinal IM short-course curriculum into our medical school education. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the curriculum via knowledge and attitude surveys regarding IM among students.METHODS: A mandatory short IM curriculum across all years of medical school was created and taught by IM professionals and physician faculty members with expertise in integrative therapies. Graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 completed the same survey in their first and third years of medical school. Paired data analysis was done, and only students who completed surveys at both time points were included in final analyses.RESULTS: Of 52 students in each class, 17 (33%) in the class of 2015 and 22 (42%) in the class of 2016 completed both surveys. After the IM curriculum, students' knowledge of and comfort with several IM therapies-biofeedback, mindfulness, and the use of St. John's wort-improved significantly. Students' personal health practices also improved, including better sleep, exercise, and stress management for the class of 2015. Students graduating in 2016 reported decreased alcohol use in their third year compared with their first year.CONCLUSION: It is feasible to incorporate IM education into undergraduate medical education, and this is associated with improvement in students' knowledge of IM and personal health practices.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049912603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85049912603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60367-4
DO - 10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60367-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 29103413
AN - SCOPUS:85049912603
VL - 15
SP - 442
EP - 449
JO - Journal of integrative medicine
JF - Journal of integrative medicine
SN - 2095-4964
IS - 6
ER -