Determination of Nurses' Attitudes Towards the Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Children: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the attitudes of nurses towards the use of T&CM practices in children. Material-Method: This study was designed in a cross-sectional-comparative descriptive design. The study fieldwork was conducted between May and August 2023. Nurses working in a hospital providing secondary health care in eastern Turkey were included in the study. Demographic data of nurses and their attitudes towards holistic complementary and alternative medicine were analysed. Results: It was determined that the mean age of the participants was 33.92 years and 69% of them worked in a state hospital. It was also found that 25.4% of the nurses had used T&CM before, and the most used T&CM method was cupping or leeching with 38.5%. Of those who participated in the study and had previously used T&CM practices, 63.5% reported that they recovered with these practices and 84.6% reported that they recommended the method they used to others. It was determined that 51% of the nurses thought that T&CM practices could be used in children and the most common T&CM method that was thought to be used in children was homeopathy with 50.7%. Conclusion: It was determined that pediatric nurses had a more positive attitude towards T&CM. It was observed that nurses thought that T&CM interventions could be used safely in the treatment of children. Since information about T&CM is obtained from newspapers, magazines, or media programmes, it is thought that integrating T&CM into nursing education curricula may be effective in raising awareness.