Critical Synthesis Package: CAM Health Belief Questionnaire (CHBQ)

Abstract

Abstract This Critical Synthesis Package contains: (1) a Critical Analysis of the psychometric properties and the application to health science education of the Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Health Belief Questionnaire (CHBQ), and (2) a copy of the CHBQ instrument developed by Desiree Lie, MD, MSEd. The CHBQ is a short, self-administered instrument containing 10 items. Response options are presented along a 7-point Likert-type rating scale. Responses yield a total score with a possible maximum of 70 and minimum of 10. Higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes toward CAM. The construct validity of the CHBQ has been verified by its repeated use in studies of medical students (physician and pharmacist) and professionals (primary care physicians, pediatricians, nurse-midwives, and obstetricians). The CHBQ has also been used in multiple cross-cultural studies; specifically, it has been validated for use with Israeli obstetricians and nurse-midwives. The CHBQ has been used in multiple studies of medical students with the aim of better understanding their attitudes toward CAM so as to increase student exposure to CAM in medical school. Changes associated with this increased exposure could be measured using the CHBQ. However, as no identified research has examined the test-retest reliability of the CHBQ, further research should evaluate the temporal stability of the CHBQ so that it can be used to assess change in CAM attitudes after educational intervention. Additional research should also consider the use of the CHBQ with patient populations as a screener for attitudes toward CAM. Understanding a patient's attitudes toward CAM could facilitate a provider's communication with the patient and treatment approach.

Keywords

• Medical Students
• Health Equity Research
• Health Beliefs
• Attitudes
• DREAM
• Directory and Repository of Educational Assessment Measures