Knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional and complementary medicine among university students in Malaysia / Kanchana Raviendran

Kanchana , Raviendran (2024) Knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional and complementary medicine among university students in Malaysia / Kanchana Raviendran. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

In Malaysia, Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) is gaining popularity and expanding its role in addressing both physical and mental health issues, while also enhancing overall well-being. With the increasing interest in T&CM and its potential integration into conventional healthcare, understanding university students' perspectives is essential. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of T&CM among university students in Malaysia. This study was conducted on 392 university students from all over Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the data and descriptive analysis was applied using SPSS. The study revealed that university students in Malaysia generally hold a positive attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) and are supportive of its integration with conventional medicine. Specifically, 66.9% of students expressed a positive view of T&CM. Knowledge levels varied significantly among different T&CM modalities. For instance, 36.7% of students had good knowledge of massage, while only 0.3% were well-informed about Unani medicine. Massage, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine were the most frequently practiced, reflecting their widespread acceptance and perceived effectiveness. In contrast, practices like hijama and Unani medicine were less commonly used. This study reveals growing interest and positive attitudes of university students toward T&CM. While there is a general willingness to integrate T&CM with conventional medical practices, there are notable gaps in students' knowledge about various T&CM modalities and their associated safety and efficacy. To address these, universities should implement targeted educational programs that provide detailed information on various T&CM modalities, including their benefits, safety, and effectiveness, to improve students' knowledge and support informed decision-making in integrating T&CM with conventional healthcare.

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