Comparison of knowledge, attitude, and experience about complementary and alternative medicine between primary care physicians and academic physicians in Korea

Despite the recent increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among the general population and patients, little is known about Korean physicians' attitudes about and interest in CAM. We conducted a web-based survey of knowledge, attitude, and experience in CAM among primary care physicians (PCPs) and academic physicians (APs) in Korea. A total of 826 physicians (341 PCPs and 485 APs) responded. Respondents in both groups felt that they were not sufficiently knowledgeable about CAM. PCPs, however, had a significantly higher composite index score in CAM knowledge than that of APs. Although APs were more skeptical about the scientific evidence of CAM than PCPs, both groups had a positive attitude toward CAM. The level of experience in utilizing CAM in their practice was 23.2% among PCPs, which was much higher than that among APs (2.7%). Experience rates of referring patients to CAM were 11.7% in PCPs and 4.5% in APs (P<0.001). Despite the discrepant rates in CAM education between the two groups (58.7% in PCPs and 26.0% in APs, P<0.001), the majority of doctors in both groups (85.0% in PCPs and 70.0% in APs) expressed an intention to participate in authorized CAM coursework. In conclusion, despite the lack of scientific evidence, both PCPs and APs have an interest in incorporating CAM into their conventional medical practices. To meet physicians' increasing needs for CAM the Korean medical societies should promote education and research about CAM in the conventional medical system.