Helen Hall1, Matthew Leach2, Caragh Brosnan3, Melissa Collins4. 1. Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Nursing & Midwifery Monash University, Frankston, Australia. Electronic address: Helen.Hall@monash.edu. 2. Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Australia. 3. Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle, Australia. 4. Endeavour College of Natural Health, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of complementary therapies is becoming increasingly prevalent. This has important implications for nurses in terms of patient care and safety. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-synthesis is to review critically, appraise and synthesize the existing qualitative research to develop a new, more substantial interpretation of nurses' attitudes regarding the, use of complementary therapies by patients. DATA SOURCES: A search of relevant articles published in English between, January 2000 and December 2015 was conducted using the following, electronic databases; MEDLINE, CINAHL and AMED. Reference lists of selected papers and grey literature were also interrogated for pertinent, studies. DESIGN: This review is reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. Data were extracted and analysed using a thematic synthesis process. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in this review. Five analytical themes emerged from the data relating to nurses' attitude towards complementary therapies: the strengths and weaknesses of conventional medicine; Complementary therapies as a way to enhance nursing practice; patient empowerment and patient-centeredness; cultural barriers and enablers to integration; and structural barriers and enablers to integration. DISCUSSION: Nurses' support for complementary therapies is not an attempt to challenge mainstream medicine but rather an endeavour to improve the quality of care available to patients. There are, however, a number of barriers to nurses' support including institutional culture and clinical context, as well as time and knowledge limitations. CONCLUSION: Some nurses promote complementary therapies as an opportunity to personalise care and practice in a humanistic way. Yet, nurses have very limited education in this field and a lack of professional frameworks to assist them. The nursing profession needs to consider how to address current deficiencies in meeting the growing use of complementary therapies by patients.
BACKGROUND: The use of complementary therapies is becoming increasingly prevalent. This has important implications for nurses in terms of patient care and safety. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-synthesis is to review critically, appraise and synthesize the existing qualitative research to develop a new, more substantial interpretation of nurses' attitudes regarding the, use of complementary therapies by patients. DATA SOURCES: A search of relevant articles published in English between, January 2000 and December 2015 was conducted using the following, electronic databases; MEDLINE, CINAHL and AMED. Reference lists of selected papers and grey literature were also interrogated for pertinent, studies. DESIGN: This review is reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. Data were extracted and analysed using a thematic synthesis process. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in this review. Five analytical themes emerged from the data relating to nurses' attitude towards complementary therapies: the strengths and weaknesses of conventional medicine; Complementary therapies as a way to enhance nursing practice; patient empowerment and patient-centeredness; cultural barriers and enablers to integration; and structural barriers and enablers to integration. DISCUSSION: Nurses' support for complementary therapies is not an attempt to challenge mainstream medicine but rather an endeavour to improve the quality of care available to patients. There are, however, a number of barriers to nurses' support including institutional culture and clinical context, as well as time and knowledge limitations. CONCLUSION: Some nurses promote complementary therapies as an opportunity to personalise care and practice in a humanistic way. Yet, nurses have very limited education in this field and a lack of professional frameworks to assist them. The nursing profession needs to consider how to address current deficiencies in meeting the growing use of complementary therapies by patients.
Authors: Elizabeth B Bruns; Deanna Befus; Barbara Wismer; Kelly Knight; Shelley R Adler; Kristina Leonoudakis-Watts; Ariana Thompson-Lastad; Maria T Chao Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 2.579
Authors: Fei-Yi Zhao; Gerard A Kennedy; Sonja Cleary; Russell Conduit; Wen-Jing Zhang; Qiang-Qiang Fu; Zhen Zheng Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-08-04