There is a growing awareness amongst Muslims to avoid all items containing non-Halal ingredients. This sentiment has now progressed into the field of various medications. It therefore, required a study to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) relating to pharmaceuticals containing non-Halal ingredients among doctors working in various hospitals of Malaysia. This was a cross sectional study, carried out in January 2013-February 2013 period, using a structured, self-administered questionnaires. Study settings included various government hospitals in Malaysia. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires through respective heads of the departments. Study was conducted on a sample of 243 participants. Inclusion criterion was a registered medical doctor working in a government hospital. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, median, inter quartile range) was applied to summarize the data, non-parametric tests were applied. χ2 Test and Fisher's Exact Test were applied to assess the association between demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude and perception scores. Results revealed that the hospital doctors had a good and positive attitude and perception about Halal pharmaceuticals. Mean knowledge score out of maximum possible 9 score was 7.67 ± 1.68. Mean attitude score out of maximum possible 45 score was 34.10 ± 5.35 while mean perception score out of maximum possible 55 score was 45.73 ± 5.44. Mean overall KAP score out of maximum possible 109 was 87.60 ± 10.37. There was a significant, positive and weak correlation (0.20-0.29) between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.231, p < 0.001) as well as between knowledge and perception (r = 0.209, p = 0.001) while there was good correlation (0.5-0.75) between attitude and perception (r = 0.588, p < 0.001). It is concluded from the results that the better knowledge the respondents have on Halal pharmaceuticals the better is their perception and attitude towards Halal pharmaceuticals.
Objectives: The study aims to assess doctors’ perceptions towards Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in their medical practice, factors that affect the referral of CAM and suggestions to improve CAM in medical practice.
Methods: A qualitative research approach was adopted to gain a better understanding of the current perceptions and practice held by doctors’ within their medical professions. In order to gain a wide perspective of the issue, eleven doctors were purposively selected who were working in academics, hospitals and in the community health clinics. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. A saturation point was reached after the 10th interview, and no new information emerged with the subsequent interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by means of a standard content analysis framework.
Results: The doctors expressed a range of views on CAM that can be divided into two major themes: doctors’ knowledge and understanding towards CAM and doctors’ viewpoint on CAM in their professional practice. A key factor which affected doctor’s perspectives on CAM was the lack of scientific evidences. The attitudes on CAM were basically shaped based on their personal CAM use rather than knowledge gained during an academic course. Lack of knowledge on CAM was also attributing to the doctors’ reluctance in CAM discussion with their patients. Though addition of CAM courses into the medical curriculum was proposed by some of the doctors; the practical implication was criticized as some found medical curriculum heavily packed with the biomedical courses.
Conclusions: Majority of the doctors in this study were skeptical and uncertain about CAM due to lack of scientific evidence. Doctor-patient communication on CAM can only be improved when doctors’ knowledge on CAM can be improved by providing necessary training on CAM.