CAM use by ST and other allied healthcare professionals in China and the United States

Abstract

There has been an increasing popularity in CAM globally. Allied healthcare professionals are one of the targets for consultation of recommendation of CAM by patients. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the CAM usage and recommendation pattern of allied healthcare professionals so that professionals training institutions could decide the suitability for involvement of CAM knowledge into courses. This study evaluated a series of factors which might contribute to differences in CAM usage and recommendation by allied healthcare professionals. One hundred and sixteen and 219 healthcare professionals from Hong Kong and the United States were surveyed on demographic data, personal usage and professional recommendation of CAM. Results revealed that 39% of healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and 91% in the US used CAM. 19% of professionals in Hong Kong and 70% in the US have recommended CAM to patients. In both places, around three fourth of the participants (HK: 82.3%, US: 71.2%) reported that with inadequate knowledge of CAM. The results highlighted the necessity for further education and training of allied healthcare professionals with regards to CAM use.