Student nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward CAM therapies

Hessig et al (2004) highlight that nurses value complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) but lack the knowledge regarding their application. They suggest that education can affect knowledge and application of CAM in nursing practice. Complementary and alternative therapy input into the pre-registration nursing curriculum is sporadic and higher education institutions need to incorporate CAM therapies more fully into professional education (Department of Health, 2003). This study investigated the knowledge and attitudes student nurses have to CAM therapies and their use in cancer and palliative care. Ethical approval was sought from the ethics committee at the University of Hull. A quantitative evaluative study using a convenience sample of student nurses in their final semester of pre-registration nurse education was used. Data were collected via a questionnaire; the findings demonstrate the respondents' acknowledgement of their limited knowledge of CAM therapies and the study has highlighted the need to continue working towards integrated CAM education into the pre-registration nursing curriculum.