Nursing students' opinions and knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine therapies

The aim of this study was to determine the nursing students' opinions and knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in Turkey. A descriptive study was conducted via questionnaire to a convenience sample of 276 nursing students. Students expressed positive opinions about CAM therapies, but their personal knowledge about CAM therapies was limited. Many students (64.5%, n=178) indicated that they wanted CAM to be integrated into the nursing curriculum and used in clinical practice (62.3%, n=172). Although students expressed knowledge of massage, diet, vitamins, herbal products, and praying, they had limited knowledge of biofeedback. Nursing students knowledge and understanding about CAM therapies in general, was found to be limited. It is suggested that the inclusion of CAM within in the nursing curriculum would prepare nurses to respond to knowledgably to patient questions related to CAM therapies.