Australian pharmacy students rate CAM
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