title: Knowledge, attitude and use of complementary and integrative health strategies: a preliminary survey of Iranian nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Disagreement exists regarding the need for knowledge about complementary and integrative health (CIH) strategies, as well as for the need to consider such strategies in clinical nursing practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and use of CIH strategies among nurses in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of nurses working in two hospitals of Zabol University of Medical Sciences, in southeast Iran, was conducted from October 2014 to April 2015. The questionnaire, developed specifically for this research, was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and use of CIH by nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the survey responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most nurses (n=95, 60.5%) have average knowledge about CIH strategies with most holding a positive attitude about use (n=81, 51.6%). The majority (n=90, 57.3%) of nurses, however, never applied CIH methods. Where CIH was used, massage was most often clinically applied (n=129, 82.2%) and a large percentage believed it useful for treating illness (n=136, 87.9%). Other CIH methods commonly used included prayer and herbal medicine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses have positive attitudes about CIH though knowledge was typically weak. Educational programs should carefully consider how knowledge about CIH methods could be strengthened within curricula.
authors.affiliation: Research Committee Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahnama
authors.affiliation: Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hastings-Tolsma
authors.affiliation: Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadali M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shoja
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
authors.forename: Enayatollah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolaydehyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses