Context: The recent rapid increase in demand for and use of unconventional medicine requires an adequate medical education. In the United States, 64% of medical schools offer undergraduate courses. No information is available about similar courses at European universities. Objectives: To document the incidence of educational courses on unconventional medicine offered by the European universities and their topic content. Design: Mail survey, which consisted of two questionnaires and was conducted in 1999 (January-June). The first questionnaire was sent to the universities' Rectorats, the second one to the faculties or lecturers indicated by the replies to the first questionnaire. Participants: The Universities listed by the Confederation of European Union Rectors' Conference. Main Outcome Measures: Courses offered at European Universities, both at medical faculties and at other faculties. Results: Five hundred and fifty (550) universities were contacted. Replies were received from 326 (59%); 141 have a faculty of medicine and 107 (76%) of them replied. We also received answers from 29 faculties of health sciences. In addition we received 190 (50%) answers from 380 other miscellaneous universities. Courses on unconventional medicine were offered by 43 (40%) medical schools, 21 (72%) health sciences faculties, and by 15 (8%) other faculties. Topics covered encompassed a wide range of techniques (33), from homeopathy to shamanism. Conclusions: Unconventional medicine courses are widely represented at European universities. They cover a wide range of therapies. Many of them are used clinically. Research work is underway at several faculties.
