Title of article :
Knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners towards complementary and alternative medicine in Doha, Qatar
Author/Authors :
Al Shaar, I.A.M.S. Hamad Medical Corporation - Department of Family Medicine, Qatar , Ismail, M.F.S. Hamad Medical Corporation - Department of Family Medicine, Qatar , Ismail, M.F.S. Suez Canal University - Department of Family Medicine, Egypt , Yousuf, W.A.A.A. Hamad Medical Corporation - Department of Family Medicine, Qatar , Salama, R.E. Hamad Medical Corporation - Department of Family Medicine, Qatar , Salama, R.E. Suez Canal University - Department of Community Medicine, Egypt
Abstract :
A cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners (GPs) towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was conducted in Doha, Qatar. Out of 119 respondents, 39.1% reported poor knowledge about CAM. Self-reported knowledge was highest for counselling and psychotherapy (69.0%), diet and supplements (68.1%), acupuncture (45.2%), herbal medicine (47.3%) and massage (42.5%). While 83.8% described their attitude to CAM as welcoming and 97.5% were interested to learn more about it, fewer (30.1%) had practised it before, referred patients (24.8%) or asked patients’ about their use of CAM (34.8%).Their own lack of knowledge and training in CAM was seen as a barrier to its use by 60.0% of the GPs.
