Complementary therapies: knowledge and attitudes of health professionals

This cross-sectional, single-site project studied a random selection of qualified doctors and nurses in an NHS children's trust, using a combination of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The hypothesis tested was that: 'Health professionals at the trust neither feel able nor perceive a need to provide information about complementary therapies to families under their care'. Fifty questionnaires were distributed, 36 returned and 10 interviews completed. The study demonstrated complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use was high among respondents and probably high among their patients. Attitudes were generally positive towards CAM use in children, although staff expressed concerns that CAM should do no harm. Knowledge of CAM was very limited but did not prevent staff from discussing CAM with patients or endorsing its use. It was felt CAM offered greatest benefit to children with chronic illnesses but that its most important role lay in the psychological support it could provide for both children and parents.