Complementary and Alternative medicine from the nursing student’s perspective

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of different medical and healthcare systems and interventions that claim similar healing properties than conventional medicine without strong support from evidence. Nowadays, CAM use is increasing around the globe (NCCIH 2019). The aim of this study is to evaluate the nursing students’ attitude, opinion, knowledge and personal use of CAM. In this study there are 3 research questions: 1.) What CAM treatments have been used by nursing students. 2.) What opinions and attitude do students of nursing have regarding CAM treatments in healthcare? 3.) Do nursing students recommend CAM to the patients? The theoretical frameworks that gives structure to this study is based on the importance of ethics in Katie Eriksson’s theory of caritative care, the concept of Evidence-based practices and Patricia Benner’s theory about acquisition of nursing expertise. The study is a literature review consisted of 17 articles. The data is analyzed using a qualitative content analysis method inspired in Graneheim and Lundman (2004). The study shows that student nurses have a positive attitude towards of CAM and have personally used one or more CAM treatments. Their knowledge of CAM is limited and would want CAM to be included in the nursing curriculum. Most of the students would recommend CAM therapies or methods to the patients. In concordance with the limitations of the study, there is need for independent unbiased research and it is necessary to address the student’s lack of knowledge on the matter.