title: Student nurses' perceptions of alternative and allopathic medicine.
abstract: This exploratory study of student nurses is based on the results of the responses to one question on an open-ended questionnaire: How would you define the relationship between alternative medicine and allopathic (conventional) medicine? A specific goal of the study was to find out how the surveyed respondents conceptualized the relationship between allopathic and alternative medicine. Three themes were identified: (a) "They are not at all alike," (b) "The two can or should be used together," and (c) "Those who practice alternative medicine and those who practice allopathic do not get along very well." The discussion suggests some reasons for these perceptions and considers some implications for future health care.
authors.affiliation: Red Deer College.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joudrey
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D018579:Patient Selection; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires