Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies: A National Survey of Critical Care Nurses

Abstract

• Background Demand for complementary and alternative therapies is increasing and is affecting all healthcare settings, including critical care. • Methods A random sample of members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses was surveyed to determine the members’ attitudes, knowledge, perspectives, and use of complementary and alternative therapies. • Results Most of the 726 respondents were using one or more complementary and alternative therapies in practice. The most common therapies used were diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, and prayer. A majority of the nurses had some knowledge of more than half of the 28 therapies listed on the survey, and a majority desired additional training for 25 therapies. Respondents generally required more evidence judged as essential to use or recommend conventional therapy than to use or recommend complementary and alternative therapies. Nurses viewed complementary and alternative therapies positively overall, were open to use of the therapies, and perceived them as legitimate and beneficial to patients. Nurses judged the therapies helpful for treatment of a variety of symptoms. A majority of nurses desired an increase in the availability of the therapies for patients, patients’ families, and nursing staff. Nurses’ professional use of the therapies was related to having more knowledge of them, perceiving benefits of them, total number of therapies they recommended to patients, personal use, and affiliation with a mainstream religion. • Conclusions Educational programs that provide information about use of complementary and alternative therapies and the underlying evidence base most likely will increase the appropriate use of the therapies to achieve desired outcomes.

Nurses’ beliefs, experiences and practice regarding complementary and alternative medicine in Taiwan

“…It is interesting to note that the nurses’ interest in learning more knowledge related to CAM has been widely reported in other Western countries and Taiwanese studies (e.g. Strickler 2003, McDowell & Burman 2004, Tracy et al. 2005, Chu & Wallis 2006).…”

“…Without federal regulation, medicines and supplements do not have quality control and, therefore, there is some scepticism about their integrity (Strickler 2003), however, the level of scepticism may vary from country to country. Botting and Cook (2000) and Tracy et al. (2005) reported that the physicians and nurses in their study all required more CAM research evidence before they could judge or recommend it to their clients.…”

Psychological support and outcomes for ICU patients

“…Based on such evidence on may presume that the effect of relaxation and imagery, at least on the anxiety and pain of cardiac patients, is quite powerful, and it warrants further investigation and possibly widespread application in coronary/cardiac units. In fact, in a recent survey (Tracy et al, 2005) more than 55% of intensive care nurses in the United States reported that patients and their families most commonly requested relaxation techniques, as well as prayer, massage or counselling from their nurse. Such mind-body techniques have been practiced by advanced practice nurses (Heath, 1992), and have been applied by specialized centres in intensive care patients for at least a decade (Whitworth et al, 1998).…”

Father’s experiences of involvement in the daily care of their child with developmental disability in a Chinese context

“…Therefore, physicians in this study who shared the same philosophy as the fathers not only fostered a trusting relationship, but also worked toward the same goals. Thus, nurses in the US (Tracy et al 2005) and UK (Richardson 2001) should familiarise themselves with complementary and alternative therapies to give Chinese fathers of disabled children proper advice and advocacy. Fathers in this study followed religious practices to enhance hope of better outcomes for their disabled children.…”