Investigation of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to complementary and alternative treatments of health sciences students

Öz

Purpose: Although the interest in Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAT) has increased in recent years, the level of knowledge on this subject is unsettled. The opinions of future health professionals on this subject are very important. For this reason, the present study was carried out in order to examine the knowledge, attitude, and beliefs of health science students on CATs.

Methods: The present study involved 821 students (mean age 20.68±0.43 years) from Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing, and Midwifery disciplines. The CAT Survey, which was prepared by reviewing the literature, was conducted after recording the demographic data of participants. ,

Results: It was determined that 28% of participants had knowledge about CATs and 92% believed in efficiency of CAT practices. The sources of information were environment (49%) and internet (29%) and it was found that 76% of participants want the CAT methods to be involved in curricula. The participants stated that diet (32.5%) and massage (32.5%) were the most effective methods. Examining the use of CAT methods, it was found that 52.4% has used massage, 40.8% used herbal therapy, 40.2% used SPA, and 38.7% used diet. Examining the benefits obtained, the results were found to be 42% for massage, 30% for herbal therapy, and 26% for SPA.

Conclusion: It was determined that health science students have positive attitude and knowledge about diet and massage at most while there is a lack of knowledge on other CAT approaches although they have positive attitudes and beliefs. Examining the sources of information, it is thought that adding the CAT methods into curricula of health sciences would be useful in increasing the level of knowledge and preventing malpractices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Complementary therapies
• Attitude
• Health education

Sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tedavilerle ilgili bilgi, tutum ve inanışlarının araştırılması

Öz

Amaç: Tamamlayıcı ve Alternatif Tedavilere (TAT) olan ilgi son yıllarda artış göstermekle birlikte bu konudaki bilgi düzeyi merak konusudur. Geleceğin sağlık profesyonellerinin bu konudaki fikirleri önemlidir. Bu nedenle çalışmamız sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin TAT’la ilgili bilgi, tutum ve inanışlarını incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirildi.

Yöntem: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 20,68±0,43 yıl olan, Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon, Hemşirelik ve Ebelik öğrencilerinden oluşan toplam 821 katılımcı dahil edildi. Katılımcıların demografik bilgileri kaydedildikten sonra literatür taranarak oluşturulan TAT Anketi uygulandı.

Bulgular: Katılımcıların % 28’i TAT uygulamaları hakkında bilgi sahibiydi ve %92’si de TAT uygulamalarının etkinliğine inanmakta idi. Bilgi edinme kaynaklarının çevre (%49) ve internet (%29) olduğu, ayrıca %76’sının TAT yöntemlerinin müfredatta yer almasını istediği belirlendi. Katılımcılar diyet (%32,5) ve masaj (%32,5)’ın en etkili yöntem olduğunu belirttiler. TAT yöntemlerini kullanma durumları incelendiğinde; %52,4 ile masaj, %40,8 ile bitkisel tedavi, %40,2 ile kaplıca ve %38,7 ile diyet olduğu saptandı. Faydalanma durumlarına bakıldığında ise %42 ile masaj, %30 ile bitkisel tedavi, %26 ile kaplıca olduğu belirlendi.

Sonuç: Sonuç olarak çalışmamızda sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin TAT yöntemlerinden en çok diyet ve masaj ile ilgili olumlu tutum ve bilgi sahibi iken diğer TAT yöntemleri hakkında bilgi düzeylerinin yetersiz olduğu, ancak tutum ve inanışlarının olumlu olduğu belirlendi. Bilgi edinme kaynakları da göz önünde tutulduğunda sağlık bilimleri müfredatına TAT yöntemlerinin eklenmesinin, bilgi düzeyinin artırılması ve yanlış uygulamaların önlenmesi açısından önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tamamlayıcı Tedaviler
• Tutum
• Sağlık Eğitimi

Kaynakça

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