Complementary medicine: knowledge, use and attitudes of doctors.

The recent growth in interest in the use of complementary medicine by the general public has been well reported. Health professionals, particularly nurses and midwives, are incorporating the use of complementary therapies into their practice. The medical profession is involved in the political processes affecting legislation governing complementary medicine and it is therefore important to determine the views of doctors when considering the use of complementary therapies by nurses within the health-care system. A critical review of published research studies which consider the knowledge, use and attitudes of doctors to complementary medicine is presented. These studies suggest doctors' interest in complementary medicine but they also raise a number of concerns including lack of evidence to demonstrate effectiveness, possible harmful effects, inadequate knowledge of doctors and lack of statutory regulation for most therapies. Recommendations of recent reports are outlined which attempt to address these and other issues.