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Student nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward CAM therapies
Mary Laurenson1, Julie MacDonald, Tracey McCready
1Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Hull.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|July 13, 2006
Summary
Student nurses recognize their limited knowledge of complementary and alternative therapies (CAM). Integrating CAM education into nursing curricula is crucial for enhancing their understanding and application in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Background:
- Nurses acknowledge the value of CAM but often lack sufficient knowledge for application.
- Current integration of CAM into pre-registration nursing curricula is inconsistent.
- There is a recognized need for higher education institutions to incorporate CAM more comprehensively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the knowledge and attitudes of student nurses towards CAM therapies.
- To explore the perceived use of CAM in cancer and palliative care settings by student nurses.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative evaluative study design was employed.
- Data were collected from a convenience sample of final-semester pre-registration student nurses.
- A questionnaire was utilized as the primary data collection instrument.
Main Results:
- Respondents acknowledged their limited knowledge regarding CAM therapies.
- The study identified a gap in student nurses' understanding and confidence in using CAM.
- Findings underscore the need for improved CAM education within nursing programs.
Conclusions:
- Student nurses express a need for enhanced education on CAM.
- Integrating CAM into the pre-registration nursing curriculum is essential for practice.
- Further development of educational strategies for CAM in nursing is recommended.