Evaluation of physician candidates' attitudes towards phytotherapy practices with a new scale

Introduction: To measure the attitudes of physician candidates concerning phytotherapy practices and determine the variables affecting their attitudes.Method: The study data were collected from 524 physician candidates, who were medical faculty students, using a Scale on Attitudes toward Phytotherapy Practices developed by the researchers. Since there is no scale in the literature that reliably and validly reveals the attitudes of physician candidates toward phytotherapy practices, researchers have developed a new scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used in the process of scale development. Univariate and multiple statistical methods were used for descriptive data analysis.Results: The developed scale consisted of three factors, 'trust in phytotherapy', 'phytotherapy use', and 'pre-disposition', and 23 items based on the five-point Likert type. It was found that physicians' attitudes toward 'phytotherapy use' were closer to the positive side, while they were undecided concerning the subscales of 'trust in phytotherapy' and 'predisposition'. The attitudes of first-grade physician candidates toward phytotherapy practices were positive, but more negative attitudes were observed in later grades. Conclusion: These findings show that this newly developed scale is reliable and valid and can be used to measure the attitudes of physician candidates towards phytotherapy. In addition, it is thought that the use of phyto-therapy can be extended with more scientific studies using different media channels, raising awareness among individuals about phytotherapy, and adding courses that include phytotherapy and its applications to the medical education curriculum.