Medical attitudes

Surveys of doctors' attitudes to complementary medicine show that, overall, physicians believe it is moderately effective, but low response rates make some studies unreliable. Although hospital doctors and older general practitioners tend to be more sceptical than younger doctors and medical students, most respondents believe that some of the more established forms are of benefit and should be available on the NHS. Younger doctors and medical students are more likely to perceive their knowledge of complementary medicine as inadequate and to want more tuition in the subject.

Qualitative research shows that many doctors want to be supportive of patients' choices and would welcome further information, although they generally regard complementary therapies as scientifically unproved. Doctors' concerns about such therapies include whether they are used as an adjunct or an alternative to conventional care, how effective conventional treatments are in the given condition, and the possibility …