Table 3 Description of attitudes towards CAM in the study sample (n = 373)
Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly agree | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | |
CAM product use is common amongst the UAE community | 9 | 2.4% | 15 | 4.0% | 80 | 21.4% | 177 | 47.5% | 92 | 24.7% |
Continuing education related to CAM products should be mandatory for pharmacists | 16 | 4.3% | 8 | 2.1% | 41 | 11.0% | 188 | 50.4% | 120 | 32.2% |
CAM products available in the market are well standardized | 16 | 4.3% | 33 | 8.8% | 104 | 27.9% | 167 | 44.8% | 53 | 14.2% |
CAM products available in the market are of good quality | 8 | 2.1% | 25 | 6.7% | 104 | 27.9% | 182 | 48.8% | 54 | 14.5% |
All practitioners of CAM should be medically qualified | 11 | 2.9% | 8 | 2.1% | 46 | 12.3% | 178 | 47.7% | 130 | 34.9% |
CAM should be taught in pharmaceutical school | 70 | 18.8% | 209 | 56.0% | 70 | 18.8% | 16 | 4.3% | 8 | 2.1% |
Increasing number of patients claim CAM is effective at curing their illness | 7 | 1.9% | 31 | 8.3% | 111 | 29.8% | 187 | 50.1% | 37 | 9.9% |
CAM is more cost-effective than modern medicine | 11 | 2.9% | 104 | 27.9% | 134 | 35.9% | 102 | 27.3% | 22 | 5.9% |
The reason for the success of CAM is mainly due to treating the person as a whole being | 6 | 1.6% | 29 | 7.8% | 152 | 40.8% | 154 | 41.3% | 32 | 8.6% |
CAM may have positive effect on general health outcomes | 8 | 2.1% | 20 | 5.4% | 73 | 19.6% | 231 | 61.9% | 41 | 11.0% |
Self-care and interest in our own health is one reason that people are drawn to CAM | 7 | 1.9% | 21 | 5.6% | 94 | 25.2% | 215 | 57.6% | 36 | 9.7% |
Providing information about herbal medicine is part of a pharmacist’s professional responsibility. | 56 | 15.0% | 191 | 51.2% | 82 | 22.0% | 31 | 8.3% | 13 | 3.5% |
It is important to consult a health professional before using CAM | 8 | 2.1% | 13 | 3.5% | 53 | 14.2% | 200 | 53.6% | 99 | 26.5% |
On average, practitioners of CAM make less money than other doctorsˠ | 14 | 3.8% | 55 | 14.7% | 169 | 45.3% | 103 | 27.6% | 32 | 8.6% |
CAM has a low status within medicineˠ | 6 | 1.6% | 68 | 18.2% | 146 | 39.1% | 137 | 36.7% | 16 | 4.3% |
CAM is only effective in treating minor complaintsˠ | 12 | 3.2% | 102 | 27.3% | 109 | 29.2% | 137 | 36.7% | 13 | 3.5% |
CAM is fairly unscientificˠ | 33 | 8.8% | 161 | 43.2% | 104 | 27.9% | 66 | 17.7% | 9 | 2.4% |
Practitioners of CAM listen to their patients more than other health care professionalsˠ | 14 | 3.8% | 62 | 16.6% | 163 | 43.7% | 104 | 27.9% | 30 | 8.0% |
Herbal medicine is unsafe and ineffectiveˠ | 76 | 20.4% | 214 | 57.4% | 47 | 12.6% | 30 | 8.0% | 6 | 1.6% |