Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire
Also known as: IMAQ
The IMAQ is a 26-item self-report instrument assessing healthcare professionals' attitudes toward integrative medicine—the combined use of conventional and complementary therapies based on evidence and patient-centered values. Developed by Bikker and colleagues, it measures five dimensions of attitudes: cognitive, practical, affective, and social aspects of integrative practice.
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When to use it
The IMAQ is designed for assessing attitudes among healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, allied health providers) toward integrative medicine practice. Use it to establish baseline attitudes before implementing integrative medicine education or clinical programs, evaluate attitude change following education or clinical exposure, identify subgroups with differing attitudes for targeted intervention, and predict organizational readiness for integrative medicine implementation.
Strengths & limitations
- Multidimensional assessment captures cognitive (scientific basis), practical (feasibility), affective (comfort), and social (professional acceptance) dimensions of attitudes.
- Well-validated with good internal consistency and test-retest reliability across healthcare professionals.
- Brief administration time (8–12 minutes) facilitates use in large surveys and organizational assessments.
- Directly relevant to healthcare provider behavior and clinical implementation; attitudes measured by IMAQ predict likelihood of recommending or integrating complementary therapies.
- Social desirability bias: respondents may overstate openness to integrative medicine to align with organizational values or professional expectations.
- Cross-cultural variation: attitudes toward integration of conventional and traditional/folk medicine differ significantly across cultures; single-version IMAQ may not capture culture-specific nuances.
- Evidence update lag: items reflect evidence base and perceived legitimacy at time of development; as CAM evidence evolves, item content may become outdated.
- Attitude-behavior gap: favorable attitudes do not guarantee actual integration or appropriate recommendations; implementation requires knowledge, skills, clinical guidelines, and organizational support.
Frequently asked
How does IMAQ differ from scales measuring general attitudes toward CAM?
IMAQ specifically measures attitudes toward integration—the combination of conventional and complementary medicine in evidence-based practice. General CAM attitude scales measure openness to CAM alone. IMAQ captures additional dimensions like feasibility of integration and patient autonomy within an integrated model.
Can IMAQ be used in countries with different healthcare systems and CAM traditions?
Yes, but with caution. The IMAQ was developed in a European context where integrative medicine is increasingly normalized. In countries where traditional medicine is dominant or where CAM is less regulated, items may require cultural adaptation. Always validate translations and check for cultural equivalence.
What IMAQ score should trigger organizational action to improve attitudes toward integration?
There are no clinical cutoffs. Use group means as organizational benchmarks: if mean IMAQ score is below 75 (midpoint), targeted education or leadership engagement is warranted. Conversely, very high scores (>110) across staff may indicate readiness for expanding integrative programs.
Should I use IMAQ to evaluate individual clinician performance?
IMAQ is better suited for group assessment and program evaluation than individual performance appraisal. Use scores for identifying clinicians who might benefit from additional education, not for disciplinary purposes. Combine with behavioral observation and outcome data for comprehensive performance assessment.
Sources
- Bikker, A. P., Merelle, S. B., & Reinders, M. E. (2005). Attitudes towards integrative medicine among healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional survey. Patient Education and Counseling, 56(3), 327–335. link ↗
- Mercer, S. W., Watt, G. C. M., & Gauden-Mackintosh, N. K. (2002). General practitioner activity, consultation length, chronic disease management and co-morbidity are associated with health service use in populations. British Journal of General Practice, 52(478), 308–313. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/integrative-medicine/integrative-medicine-attitudes
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Attitudes toward CAM ScaleIntegrative Medicine↔ compare
- CAM Use QuestionnaireIntegrative Medicine↔ compare
- Holistic Caring InventoryIntegrative Medicine↔ compare
- Patient Satisfaction with CAM ScaleIntegrative Medicine↔ compare