Knowledge about, attitude toward, and practice of complementary and alternative medicine among nursing students: A systematic review of cross-sectional studies

Abstract

BackgroundThe globally growing demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has attracted educators' attention to integrate CAM into conventional nursing programs. This systematic review aimed to understand the status quo of nursing students (NSs)' overall rated knowledge of, attitude/belief toward, and practice/previous use or experience (KAP) of CAM in surveys, given these factors may influence NSs' receptivity to CAM curricula, and may be of value in guiding the development of effective teaching strategies.MethodsFormally published cross-sectional quantitative studies investigating the primary outcome of KAP toward CAM by NSs were searched for from eight databases from their inception through to 28 April 2022. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed.ResultsTwenty-six studies were included for analysis, 25 of which were judged to be of moderate to high quality. Despite limited and poorly informed knowledge of CAM therapies, the majority of NSs generally viewed them in a positive light. Furthermore, NSs usually reported an interest in further learning, and supported and welcomed the integration of CAM curricula, at least as elective modules, into existing nursing programs. Lack of evidence was perceived as a major barrier to the use or integration of CAM. Mass media and the internet were the main sources via which NSs access CAM information. Measurement of KAP in all included studies was via self-designed questionnaires/scales or adapted from previously developed questionnaires/scales.ConclusionsThe need for integrating and strengthening CAM curricula into current nursing education is identified. Besides theoretical knowledge and matched clinical placement, skills training in literature searching and evidence-based practice are advised to be included in the curricula design. The experiential learning mode is strongly recommended for delivering specific CAM modalities. In addition, a standard instrumentation for determining NSs' KAP toward CAM should be designed and examined for use in different cultural settings.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=300602, identifier: PROSPERO CRD42022300602.

Identifying complementary and alternative medicine recommendations for insomnia treatment and care: a systematic review and critical assessment of comprehensive clinical practice guidelines

“…Of course, it is undeniable that the current evidence of the effectiveness and safety associated with CAM is mixed, with some modalities remaining controversial ( 17 , 61 ). The general knowledge gap makes many mental health practitioners uncomfortable when discussing CAM therapies and therefore is likely to prevent them from communicating or extending evidence-based CAM advice to patients ( 61 ).…”

“…), a considerable proportion of CAM users self-prescribed, rely on advice from friends and family to guide their CAM decisions, and/or did not inform or discuss with physicians about their CAM use ( 61 ). These irrational utilizations contribute to many of the associated medical risks, such as drug-herb interaction or side effects of the herbs ( 17 , 61 ). In contrast, initiating dialogue about CAM use during the medical encounter is helpful to minimize risk and to forge a better therapeutic alliance, and thereupon improve the patient-provider relationship and patient's satisfaction ( 83 ).…”

“…Whilst CBTi and pharmacotherapy with mainly hypnotics remain the mainstays of conventional treatment, interest in the utilization of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies for managing insomnia has emerged ( 16 ). CAM is defined as an array of diverse medical- and health- related systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered part of biomedicine-oriented mainstream or conventional healthcare systems ( 17 , 18 ). According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, updated on March 2023), CAM modalities are generally classified into five categories depending on their primary therapeutic input: nutritional (e.g., probiotics, dietary supplements, etc.…”

Assessment of Undergraduate Nursing Students\' Understanding of Herbal Medicines and Herb-Drug Interactions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…On the other hand, another study by Badke et al, among nursing students, indicated that undergraduate nurses have been noted to be uncertain about using medicinal herbs, indicating the need for advancements in nursing education [24]. Additionally, another systematic evaluation of 26 studies of herbal and complementary medicine practice among nursing students found a positive opinion of herbal and complementary medicine therapies, despite their inadequate knowledge [25]. Similarly, studies from developed countries reported that most of the students knew that herbs could interact with conventional drugs when administered concurrently, but students failed to provide specific examples of such interactions [26,27].…”