Attitudes of Arab-Muslims toward integration of complementary medicine in primary-care clinics in Israel: the Bedouin mystery

Abstract

Introduction. In this study, we have compared attitudes of two social groups within the Israeli-Muslim population in order to examine the influence of modernization on the use of traditional and Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Research design and methods. We developed a 13-item questionnaire that addresses issues of CAM use, expectations from the primary-care physicians concerning CAM and attitudes toward CAM integration within the patient's primary-care clinic. Data for statistical analysis were obtained from 472 respondents who defined themselves as Bedouins and 869 non-Bedouins attending five primary-care clinics.

Results. Respondents in the two groups were equally distributed by demographic characteristics. Bedouin respondents reported less CAM use during the previous year (26.3% vs. 50.2%, P<0.0001), and less use of traditional medicine and herbs. Compared to non-Bedouins, Bedouin respondents who were considering CAM use expressed more drug reluctance. Respondents in both groups greatly supported a theoretical scenario of CAM integration in primary-medical care, and expected their family practitioner to initiate the referral to CAM. Bedouin respondents held higher expectations for their physician to refer them to CAM and to offer CAM treatment in the clinic. Moreover, Bedouins expected to receive CAM in a primary-care setting, and supported the option that their family physician would provide CAM in such a setting more than the non-Bedouin Muslims did.

Conclusions. We hypothesize that the two communities differ due to later modernization in the Bedouin society that may highly regard and pursue medical science while forsaking traditional and herbal medicine.

Keywords:

• primary care
• family medicine
• integrative medicine
• complementry medicine
• doctor–patient communication
• cross-cultural medicine
• traditional medicine