Personal use and professional recommendations of complementary and alternative medicine by Hong Kong registered nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an understanding of Hong Kong registered nurses' personal and professional use of complementary and alternative medicine.


METHODS
Cross-sectional questionnaire study.


METHODS
Registered nurses who were members of the Hong Kong College of Nursing were invited to participate.


METHODS
Demographic data of the respondents, prevalence of personal and professional use of complementary and alternative medicines, including their use for detailed clinical conditions.


RESULTS
A total of 187 nurses participated in this study. Nearly four fifths (80%; 95% confidence interval, 74-86%) of the participants had used at least one form of complementary/alternative medicine. In addition to the personal use of such treatment, over two fifths (41%; 95% confidence interval, 34-48%) had recommended at least one form of complementary/alternative medicine to their patients. These included bone-setting (20%), Chinese remedial massage (tuina, 19%), and meditation (19%). Specifically, registered nurses recommended acupuncture or acupressure to patients with musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, or headaches/migraines.


CONCLUSIONS
Personal use and professional recommendations for complementary and alternative medicine by registered nurses in Hong Kong is substantial. Registered nurses played an active role in advising such treatment for their patients based on their personal knowledge of perceived benefit in specific conditions. Further investigations with a larger sample size should focus on registered nurses' educational needs in respect of complementary and alternative medicine and the advice they recommended.
Xue
Charlie C L
CC
Division of Chinese Medicine, School of Health Sciences, The WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Zhang
Anthony L
AL
Holroyd
Eleanor
E
Suen
Lorna K P
LK
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data