Use of and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine among nurse-midwives in Israel.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the use and attitudes of nurse-midwives in Israel toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, nurse-midwives from 5 Israeli medical centers completed the CAM Health Belief Questionnaire, a validated tool examining data regarding personal health behavior, use of CAM therapies, and attitudes toward CAM.


RESULTS
One hundred seventy-three of 238 potential respondents completed the questionnaires (72.7%). Most (87.3%) reported using CAM (67.1% massage, 48.6% herbal medicine, 42.2% meditation, 40.5% touch therapies, and 39.9% prayer) and agree with many fundamental tenets of CAM such as the existence of energy forces, self-healing, and integrating patients' health beliefs and values into their care.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of nurse-midwives studied reported using and recommending CAM to their patients and believe that CAM can complement conventional medical therapies. Health care providers could benefit from education with regard to the efficacy and safety of CAM modalities during pregnancy and childbirth.
Samuels
Noah
N
The Center for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. refplus@netvision.net.il
Zisk-Rony
Rachel Y
RY
Singer
Shepherd R
SR
Dulitzky
Mordechai
M
Mankuta
David
D
Shuval
Judith T
JT
Oberbaum
Menachem
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires