Complementary and alternative medicine: oncology nurses' knowledge and attitudes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe oncology nurses' complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) knowledge and attitudes.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional.


METHODS
A national medical center and research institute.


METHODS
A random sample of 850 Oncology Nursing Society members who are RNs involved in direct care.


METHODS
Respondents completed a demographic questionnaire and the Nurse Complementary and Alternative Medicine Knowledge and Attitude survey. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the participants' CAM knowledge and attitudes. In addition, participants' comments were transcribed and content analysis was conducted.


METHODS
CAM knowledge and attitudes.


RESULTS
The participants' mean CAM knowledge score was 70%. Attitudes varied according to beliefs, practice, and role, but were positive overall.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessing oncology nurses' CAM knowledge is important for developing appropriate educational programs that will help nurses support and advocate for patients. In addition, assessing CAM attitudes will provide insight for realizing and sustaining robust changes to health care.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncology nurses should be prepared with insightful CAM knowledge and attitudes to provide prudent and unbiased information to patients.
Rojas-Cooley
M Teresa
MT
Inland Valley Medical Center, Wildomar, CA, USA. trojas_cooley@verizon.net
Grant
Marcia
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States