Hungarian students’ choices between complementary and alternative medicine or conventional medicine for themselves and family members on a five-level severity scale of different diseases

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to examine how students choose between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine (COM) on a 5point severity scale of diseases and how their choices change as the severity of diseases increases. The study also aimed to reveal whether the students' choices between CAM and COM for themselves and for their family members are consistent. Finally, comparisons were made between male and female students. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey 725 (44.6% response rate) health care and social work students at the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Health completed the questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: On each level of severity most of the students chose 'primarily COM, secondly CAM' (38.8%-64.5%), followed by 'only COM' (between 23.5% and 28.0%), CAM+COM (between 9.7% and 27.0%), and finally, 'only CAM' (between 2.3% and 6.0%).). Students' choices between CAM and COM for themselves and for their family members were consistent. Significantly more males than females chose 'only COM' on the mildest, serious and the most serious levels (37.6% vs. 26.7%; 37.9% vs. 23.9%; 38.2% vs. 21.4%; p<0.05) and significantly more females than males chose the 'primarily COM and secondly CAM' on serious and the most serious levels of disease (65.4% vs. 50.8%; 66.4% vs. 50.8%; p<0.05). The more serious the disease was, the response rate in 'primarily COM and secondly CAM' increased while it decreased in 'primarily