Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Nurses in Western Saudi...

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used in Saudi Arabia, yet nurses' readiness to provide safe, evidence-informed guidance remains unclear. This study assessed nurses' knowledge, information-seeking ability, attitudes, and practice related to CAM and identified demographic and professional predictors of competency in 2 Ministry of Health tertiary hospitals in the Western Region. A cross-sectional survey of 501 registered nurses used validated measures of CAM familiarity, access to information, attitudes, and practice behaviors. Overall familiarity was low to moderate, and 64.5% reported difficulty locating reliable information. Attitudes were generally positive (42.7% very high), while practice levels were mostly moderate (84.6%); only 7.6% had prior CAM training. Higher education and previous CAM training were significant predictors of better familiarity, information-seeking, and practice. Despite supportive attitudes, gaps in knowledge and training limit safe integration, underscoring the need for structured education and institutional guidance.