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Nurses' attitudes towards complementary therapies: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

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dc.contributor.authorHall, H.
dc.contributor.authorLeach, M.
dc.contributor.authorBrosnan, C.
dc.contributor.authorCollins, M.
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractBackground: The use of complementary therapies is becoming, increasingly prevalent. This has important implications for nurses in, terms of patient care and safety. Objective: The aim of this meta-synthesis is to review, critically, appraise and synthesize the existing qualitative research to develop a new, more substantial interpretation of nurses' attitudes regarding the, use of complementary therapies by patients. Data sources; A search of relevant articles published in English between, January 2000 and December 2015 was conducted using the following, electronic databases; MEDLINE, CINAHL and AMED. Reference lists of selected papers and grey literature were also interrogated for pertinent, studies. Design This review is reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines.Data were extracted and analysed using a thematic synthesis process. Results: Fifteen articles were included in this review. Five analytical themes emerged from the data relating to nurses' attitude towards complementary therapies: the strengths and weaknesses of conventional medicine; Complementary therapies as a way to enhance nursing practice;patient empowerment and patient-centeredness; cultural barriers and enablers to integration; and structural barriers and enablers to integration. Discussion: Nurses' support for complementary therapies is not an attempt to challenge mainstream medicine but rather an endeavour to improve the quality of care available to patients. There are, however, a number of barriers to nurses' support including institutional culture and clinical context, as well as time and knowledge limitations. Conclusion: Some nurses promote complementary therapies as an opportunity to personalise care and practice in a humanistic way. Yet, nurses have very limited education in this field and a lack of professional frameworks to assist them. The nursing profession needs to consider how to address current deficiencies in meeting the growing use of complementary therapies by patients.
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Nursing Studies, 2017; 69:47-56
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.01.008
dc.identifier.issn0020-7489
dc.identifier.issn1873-491X
dc.identifier.orcidLeach, M. [0000-0003-3133-1913]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/124805
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.fundingEndeavour College of Natural Health
dc.rightsCopyright 2017 Elsevier
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.01.008
dc.subjectcomplementary and alternative medicine
dc.subjectcomplementary medicine
dc.subjectcomplementary therapies
dc.subjectmeta-synthesis
dc.subjectnurse
dc.subjectsystematic review
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectAttitude of Health Personnel
dc.subjectNursing Staff
dc.subjectPatient-Centered Care
dc.subjectPower, Psychological
dc.titleNurses' attitudes towards complementary therapies: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9916114409901831

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