title: Nurses and nutraceuticals. Knowledge and use.
abstract: Increasing use of herbal products by the American public should prompt nurses to routinely address herbal use during patient interactions. However, whether nurses possess the knowledge required to discuss risks and benefits of herbal use with patients is unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate registered nurses' knowledge about and use of five common herbal products: ginkgo, St. John's wort, ginseng, garlic, and echinacea. One hundred forty-nine (30%) of 500 randomly selected nurses responded to a mailed questionnaire addressing the frequency of use, purpose, side effects, and interactions of the above products. Most respondents had neither used nor suggested use of the products. Respondents were relatively unfamiliar with product characteristics, although somewhat more familiar with purpose than with side effects or interactions. No knowledge differences were identified according to practice area or number of years in practice, but differences were noted according to educational level and use of specific products.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sand-Jecklin
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badzek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D020900:Echinacea; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000451:nursing*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts