Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine into the Health Education Curriculum

Abstract

The study and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches continue to grow among the general public and health professionals. This article provides a brief overview of the popularity in CAM approaches and suggests a proposed CAM course for health education professional preparation programs. To begin the debate on what components should be standard in a CAM course for health educators and other health professionals, the authors provide a suggested course outline. This outline can be used as a separate and distinct course or the components can be integrated into existing courses. The course outline provides a proposed course description and goals, suggested topics of study and textbooks, and methods of assessment to be incorporated in a course on complementary and alternative medicine for health education students.