research updates: alternative medicine

abstract

FALKENBACH and colleagues, Research Institute Gastein, Badgastein, Austria write that massage courses for medical students have been held at Frankfurt University Medical School from 1987. The authors surveyed students’ motives for participation and changes in attitude towards massage therapy .

methodology

Students were asked to complete a standardised questionnaire in 1990, 1993 and 1995/96.

results

Motives for participation and attitudes towards massage therapy remained largely unchanged throughout these years. The motives for participation were: 1) to practise massage therapy (86%); 2) to be better able to (later) prescribe massage therapy (66%); 3) to improve palpation skills (75%); 4) to do ‘something practical’ (56%); and 5) to (later) practise massage therapy as medical doctor (23%). The proportion of theory and practical instruction of 1:3.2 was considered suitable.

reference

Falkenbach A et al. Course in massage therapy for medical students. Medical Education 32(5): 514-6. Sep 1998.