Pharmacy students view education about CAM as a core and integral part of their professional degree.

First, the details.

• 119 undergraduate pharmacy students from a University in South East Queensland, Australia participated in a survey or interview.

And, the results.

• 96% of pharmacy students believe that pharmacists should be able to advise patients about CAM.
• 94% used CAM prior to enrolling in the program.
• 89% perceived education about CAM as a core and integral part of their professional degree.
• They favored it over an additional postgraduate degree.
• They saw a greater need for education in herbals, vitamins and minerals compared to acupuncture, meditation, and bio-magnetism.
• Greater knowledge of CAM was associated with a greater need for education about it.

The bottom line?
The author first reported these findings at a pharmacy meeting in Australia several months ago. The results have now been published.

It’s one more in a series of studies that shows support for CAM education by healthcare students in Canada, Wales, and the US, here and here.

4/9/08 23:23 JR