University Students' Attitudes Towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices

Abstract

Objective= This study investigates how university students, a well-educated segment of society, perceive traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) practices and their level of healthy lifestyle skills, and how they are related. It also aims to determine whether students' healthy living skills influence their attitudes towards T&CM practices. Methods= This descriptive and cross-sectional study focused on students enrolled in three state universities. A total of 362 student datasets were analyzed. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire comprising inquiries related to students' sociodemographic features, their familiarity with T&CM, the T&CM attitude scale, and the scale assessing their healthy living skills. Results= The study's findings, the correlation coefficient between the total scores of the students from the T&CM Attitude Scale (114.80±17.95) and the Healthy Living Skills Scale (64.29±8.79) was calculated as r=0.127. There was a positive, statistically significant (p<0.001) but a very weak relationship between the scales. The regression analysis showed that a one-unit increase in the healthy living skills scale resulted in a 0.2-point increase in the T&CM attitude scale. Conclusion= In the study was found students’ attitudes toward T&CM were positive but they lacked knowledge about it. Also, results revealed that the number of students who experienced T&CM's implementation was quite low. This research holds significance in uncovering the healthy living skills and attitudes toward T&CM among university students. Given their capacity to impact society through behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes, understanding these aspects is crucial for a comprehensive insight into the broader societal implications.

Keywords

• Traditional and complementary medicine
• healthy living skills
• university student

References

1. Öztürk M, Uskun E, Özdemir R, Çınar M, Alptekin F, Doğan M. Isparta ilinde halkın geleneksel tedavi tercihi. Türkiye Klinikleri J Med Ethics. 2005; 13(3):179-186.
2. World Health Organization (WHO). General guidelines for methodologies on research and evaluation of traditional medicine. 2000 (cited: 2023 February 1) Available from: URL: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/66783/WHO_EDM_TRM_2000.1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
3. World Health Organization (WHO). WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2014-2023. Geneva: World Health Organization Press. 2013 (cited: 2023 February 1). Available from: URL: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241506096.
4. Patwardhan B, Warude D, Pushpangadan P, Bhatt N. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine: a comparative overview. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2005; 2(4):465-473.
5. Humber JM. The role of complementary and alternative medicine: Accommodating pluralism. American Medical Association. 2002; 288(13): 1655–1659.
6. Coulter ID,Willis EM. The rise and rise of complementary and alternative medicine: a sociological perspective. Medical Journal of Australia. 2004; 180(11): 587-589.
7. Broom A, Wijewardena K, Sibbritt D, Adams J, Nayar KR. The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in Sri Lankan cancer care: results from a survey of 500 cancer patients. Public Health. 2010; 124(4): 232-237.
8. Yurdakul, ES, Sarı O., Geleneksel ve Tamamlayıcı Tıp Uygulamalarının Etik Yönden İncelenmesi. Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi, 2020, 10.3: 404-414.

9. World Health Organization (WHO). Legal status of traditional medicine and complementary/alternative medicine: A worldwide review. 2001 (cited: 2023 February 1). Available from: URL: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42452/WHO_EDM_TRM_2001.2_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
10. World Health Organization (WHO). Primary Health Care: Report of the International Conference on primary health care, Alma-Ata. USSR Geneva World Health Organization Press. 1978 (cited: 2023 February 1). Available from: URL: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39228.
11. Akupunktur Tedavi Yönetmeliği. Resmi Gazete. No:20885. Publication date: 1991 May 29.
12. Geleneksel ve Tamamlayıcı Tıp Uygulamaları Yönetmeliği. Resmi Gazete. No:29158. Publication date: 2014 October 27.
13. Steptoe A, Wardle J, Cui W, Bellisle F, Zotti A M, Baranyai R, et al. Trends in smoking, diet, physical exercise, and attitudes toward health in European University students from 13 countries 1990-2000. Preventive Medicine. 2002; 35: 97-104.
14. Chourdakis M, Tzellos T, Papazisis G, Toulis K, Kouvelas D. Eating habits, health attitudes and obesity indices among medical students in Northern Greece. Appetite, 2010; 55(3): 722-725.
15. Tol A, Tavassoli E, Shariferad GR. Shojaeezadeh D. Health-promoting lifestyle and quality of life among undergraduate students at school of health. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2013; 2(11): 29-32.
16. McFadden KL, Hernández TD, Ito TA. Attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine influence its use. Explore. 2010; 6(6): 380-388.
17. Köse E, Ekerbiçer HÇ, Erkorkmaz U. Complementary, Alternative and conventional medicine attitude scale: Turkish validity reliability study. Sakarya Tıp Dergisi. 2018; 8(4); 726-736.
18. Genç A, Karaman F. Üniversite öğrencilerinde sağlıklı yaşam becerileri ölçeğinin geliştirilmesi. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2019;7: 656-669.
19. Dursun Sİ, Vural B, Keskin B, Kaçar HK, Beyhan A, Kadıoğlu H. Yetişkinlerde geleneksel/tamamlayıcı tıp tutumu ile sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlık algısı arasındaki ilişki. Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği Dergisi. 2019;1(1); 1-10.
20. Özer Z, Turan GB, Bakır E. Dahiliye polikliniğine başvuran hastaların geleneksel ve tamamlayıcı tıbba karşı tutumları ve etkileyen faktörler. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi. 2020; 2 (3): 102-112.