A cross-sectional study on Swedish licensed nurses' use, practice, perception and knowledge
about complementary and alternative medicine
Engelsk titel: A cross-sectional study on Swedish licensed nurses' use, practice, perception and knowledge
about complementary and alternative medicine
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Författare:
Jong, Mats
;
Lundqvist, Veronica
;
Jong, Miek C
Email: mats.jong@miun.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 40
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 15123790
Sammanfattning
Rationale: No data exist on the percentage of licensed nurses in Sweden who practise a form of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Objective
To investigate the use, practice, perception and knowledge of CAM among a representative sample of
licensed nurses in Sweden.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive anonymous survey on CAM-related issues was distributed between
April and June 2012 to 1200 licensed nurses who were member of the Swedish Association of Health
Professionals (Vårdförbundet).
Results
A total of 335 nurses (28%) responded to the survey of which 83% reported to have used at least one
CAM method for self-care. Massage (59.7%), dietary supplements (51.3%) and mind-body therapies
(24.8%) were most frequently used. CAM practice was reported by 11 and 43% of the nurses wished to
practise a CAM method in the future. Main barriers for practise of CAM were lack of knowledge, lack of
scientific evidence and little knowledge on legislative issues concerning CAM. A high proportion
(73%) of nurses never or seldom asked patients about CAM use although 59.1% opined that health-
care personnel should inform clients about CAM when they ask for it. Having knowledge about CAM
was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with a higher odds of respondents to ask their
patients about CAM use (OR 3.3; CI 1.4-7.6). Similar findings on CAM use, knowledge and perception
were observed in a confirmatory analysis among an additional convenience sample of 625 nurses in
Sweden.
Conclusion
Licensed nurses in Sweden seemed to have an overall positive attitude towards CAM. Although CAM
practice was low, a substantial number wished to practise a CAM method in the future. Main barrier
for CAM practise and communication was lack of knowledge and evidence, emphasizing the need for
structural education, information and research on CAM in Sweden.