Knowledge, attitudes, and use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine among psychology students in Canada - A national survey

This study examined knowledge, attitudes, and use of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) among psychology students in Canada. A total of 208 participants were recruited from a purposive, cross-sectional sample of approximately 1200 student members of the Canadian Psychological Association. An online survey was administered to gather data regarding students' awareness and use of 15 TCAM modalities, their attitudes toward TCAM use in psychology, previous training in TCAM, perceived training needs for TCAM in psychology, as well as demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and t-tests were conducted to summarize responses and provide insight into potential relationships between variables. Results depict students' awareness and attitudes about the use of TCAM in psychology. This will inform the development of curriculum and resources for training programs offered in psychology departments across Canada. Further, this research can stimulate discussion around ethical and professional guidelines for incorporating TCAM in psychological research and practice.