This paper reports a project aimed to develop and refine an integrative medicine (IM) elective to improve health education and learning, thereby enhancing future physicians’ knowledge, skills, and self-care practices. Three separate cohorts of third- and fourth-year medical students (n=18) participated in a four-week immersive IM elective. Weekly and post-elective evaluations were used to assess changes in attitudes, behaviors, and self-reported IM knowledge for each cohort. Descriptive analyses were performed, and just-in-time student feedback was used to iteratively refine the IM curriculum.
Students attended at least 85% of class days. Anonymous weekly course evaluation ratings for meeting course expectations, education depth, and usefulness for patient care ranged between 4 and 5 on a Likert scale, with 5 as the most favorable. Post-course evaluations and the impact of the course on attitudes related to patient care, personal lifestyle, and self-awareness also ranged from 4 to 5. Knowledge scores significantly improved (p<.01), with moderate to large effect sizes (Hedges g’s>0.8).
The authors concluded that the implementation of an immersive elective curriculum in IM resulted in high levels of satisfaction, changes in attitudes and behaviors, as well as knowledge scores. Just-in-time feedback and curricular revisions made this curriculum effective for student training. We consider this our first step in integrating IM into the required curriculum for all students, ensuring that, as educators, we close the knowledge gap in IM among future physicians. Empowered with that knowledge, we anticipate them serving their future patients with a more holistic and patient-centered approach.
This ‘research’ was supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation Endowment. There are eleven integrative health programs receiving Osher support. The programs feature research, education, and clinical care in integrative medicine. The Foundation has also supported a career development award program for complementary medicine practitioners through the National Institutes of Health. Since the Osher Foundation is hopelessly biased towards IM, we understand why the authors’ 2nd sentence in the abstract categorically states: “integrative medicine (IM) is cost-effective and clinically effective for enhancing health and well-being”. We also comprehend why the entire article is devoid of even an attempt to critically analyse or doubt the value of IM.
And by jove, there is plenty to criticise. On this blog, we have often done so, e.g.:
- Memorandum ‘INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE’
- Integrative Medicine or Infiltrative Pseudoscience?
- More uncomfortable thoughts on ‘integrative medicine’
- The reality of ‘integrative medicine’ consists of little more than re-discoveries from conventional medicine, platitudes and outright nonsense
- Integrative medicine physicians tend to harbour anti-vaccination views
- Integrative medicine: one of the most colossal deceptions in healthcare today
- Integrated/integrative medicine: a paradise for charlatans?
The fact is that IM is nonsense: the aspects that are good about IM are ‘stolen’ from real medicine and certainly not unique to it, while the aspects related to the integration of un- or disproven (and thus dangerous) modalities are best left to disintegrate. To put it bluntly:
An elective in nonsense will result in harmful nonsense!
3 Responses to Integrative Medicine Education for Medical Students? NO, IT’S NONSENSE!
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There is, in my opinion, a need for mainstream doctors (and other healthcare providers) to have at least a modicum of familiarity and knowledge vis a vis SCAM modalities if for no other reason than to advise their patients about the ineffectiveness and potential dangers they present.
Case in point: just last week, in a conversation with a pediatrician friend, I mentioned to him my interest in quackery and that my number 1 concern is chiropractic. He countered by saying, in part, that they (D.C.s) do some good in certain areas. What I gleaned from his comment is that he has little or no knowledge (likely the latter) of what chiropractic is and what chiropractors do and the dangers of certain things we can expect from them. The conversation ended before I could explain to him what I find dangerous about it.
Several other M.D. friends and acquaintances have expressed their acceptance of acupuncture. I get the idea that they’re unfamiliar with the meridian theory of the modality and/or their overlooking the placebo effect.
Teach aspiring doctors what they’re up against!
“There is, in my opinion, a need for mainstream doctors (and other healthcare providers) to have at least a modicum of familiarity and knowledge vis a vis SCAM modalities”
I entirely agree – but the education/teaching has to be critical and not promotional.
I entirely agree – but the education/teaching has to be critical and not promotional.
Precisely my point. Proper healthcare providers must be armed to protect patients from potential and sometimes very real dangers in the hands of SCAMmers.