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Oncology nurses' attitudes towards alternative medicine
L Salmenperä1, T Suominen, S Lauri
1University of Turku, Department of Nursing, Finland.
Psycho-Oncology
|January 13, 1999
Summary
Nurses in Finland generally hold negative attitudes toward alternative medicine, viewing it as unsafe for cancer patients. They believe open communication about these therapies between patients, nurses, and physicians is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Oncology Nursing
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
- Healthcare Professional Attitudes
Background:
- Limited research exists on healthcare professionals' perspectives regarding alternative medicine.
- Understanding nurses' attitudes is vital for integrating or addressing complementary therapies in cancer care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and describe the attitudes of oncology nurses towards alternative medicine in Finnish hospitals.
- To explore nurses' perceptions of safety, naturalness, and financial motivations associated with alternative cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based survey was administered to nurses on oncology wards in four Finnish hospitals.
- Data were collected from 92 nurses, achieving a response rate of 68.1%.
Main Results:
- Most oncology nurses surveyed did not perceive alternative medicine as safe or natural for cancer treatment.
- A significant portion of nurses suspected alternative therapies were promoted by fraudulent practitioners for financial gain.
- Nurses emphasized the importance of facilitating patient discussions about alternative medicine use with both nurses and physicians.
Conclusions:
- Finnish oncology nurses predominantly exhibit negative attitudes towards alternative medicine.
- Further research is warranted to determine if these negative attitudes influence actual nursing practices concerning complementary therapies.