Involving Medical Students in the Curriculum Development of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Background: Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) is acknowledged as integral parts of healthcare systems worldwide and thus increasingly integrated in medical education. Regarding undergraduate medical education, studies demonstrate the positive attitude of medical students toward TCIM and their general interest in it. However, their engagement in curriculum development has not yet been explored in this context.

Method: We conducted an exploratory qualitative descriptive study using a focus group discussion with fourth-year medical students to explore perspectives, experiences, and expectations in relation to a novel curriculum on TCIM at Fribourg University in Switzerland. The aim was to identify elements that could be of general importance for curriculum development of TCIM in undergraduate medical education.

Results: Main themes derived from the analysis were (a) the need for and usefulness of a curriculum about TCIM in undergraduate medical education, (b) satisfaction with the content and structure of the Fribourg curriculum, and (c) important competencies acquired or to be acquired during the curriculum. Most important, students agreed that TCIM is essential for all students and not just optional in medical school curricula. Students favored a longitudinal and transversal curriculum for TCIM, allowing cross-fertilization with other medical disciplines. Students emphasized the importance of a patient-centered and relationship-based approach to good patient care, which is integral to the definition of TCIM. Finally, students highlighted the diversity of attitudes, expectations, and perspectives as an inherent issue for academic teaching and learning as well as for patient care.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the usefulness and importance of engaging students in undergraduate medical curricula on TCIM through participation in the process of continuous curriculum development. Medical students in our study consider TCIM to be an essential subject, which advocates for its stronger inclusion in medical training to prepare future doctors to provide patient-centered care in increasingly complex healthcare systems.