Suggested curriculum guidelines on complementary and alternative medicine:Recommendations of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Group on Alternative Medicine

<(Background and Objectives)under bar>: The widespread use of alternative a nd complementary therapies by the public provides a new challenge to medica l education. No standardized curriculum is available for medical educators in this field. Providing an adequate background on these therapies and reli able, useful information to our learners was a task addressed by the Societ y of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Group on Alternative Medicine over the past 2 years. <(Methods)under bar>: The group met at conferences and co mmunicated via e-mail to develop a consensus of recommended knowledge, skil ls, and attitudes in complementary and alternative medicine for incorporati on into the family, practice residency training curriculum. <(Conclusion)un der bar>: This article suggests guidelines as developed by this STFM group to assist programs wishing to include formal training in complementary and alternative medicine in residency training.