Student Readiness for Conventional & Traditional Medicine Integration

Traditional medicine (TM) is a vital component of healthcare in Ethiopia and is widely used alongside conventional medicine. In line with World Health Organization recommendations on evidence-based integration, this study assessed the perceptions, readiness, and recommendations of graduating medical and health science students toward integrating traditional and conventional medicine in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2025 among 346 graduating students using a structured self-administered questionnaire, with data analyzed using SPSS version 25. Findings showed high awareness of TM (85.5%) and substantial lifetime use (67.9%). Students acknowledged the affordability, accessibility, and cultural acceptability of TM but raised concerns regarding non-standardized dosage, safety risks, limited scientific evidence, and weak regulatory frameworks. Despite these concerns, 66.5% of respondents were willing to collaborate with traditional medicine practitioners within a regulated healthcare system. Overall, graduating health science students demonstrated a positive yet cautious readiness for integration...