Complementary medicine use by nurse midwives in the U.S

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Nursing Research
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly integrated into healthcare.
• Understanding the utilization patterns of CAM by healthcare providers is crucial for evidence-based practice.
• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are key providers in maternal and women's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of CAM utilization among CNMs.
• To identify how CNMs acquire knowledge about CAM modalities.
• To describe the characteristics of CNMs who use CAM.

Main Methods:

• A prospective descriptive study design was employed.
• A survey was distributed to a random sample of 500 CNMs from the American College of Nurse Midwives.
• Data collected included CAM treatment modalities used, knowledge acquisition, and provider characteristics.

Main Results:

• A 45% response rate (n=227) was achieved.
• 78% of responding CNMs reported using CAM.
• Herbal preparations (85%), pharmacologic/biologic treatments (82%), and mind-body interventions (80%) were the most frequently used CAM modalities.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of CNMs utilize various CAM therapies in their practice.
• Diet and lifestyle interventions are universally adopted by CNM CAM users.
• Further research can explore the impact of CAM on midwifery outcomes.