Nurses’ communication regarding patients’ use of complementary and alternative medicine

Hall, H; Brosnan, C; Frawley, J; Wardle, J; Collins, M; Leach, M

Nurses’ communication regarding patients’ use of complementary and alternative medicine

Hall, H

Brosnan, C

Frawley, J

Wardle, J

Collins, M Leach, M

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Collegian, 2018, 25 (3), pp. 285 - 291
Issue Date:: 2018-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hall, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6647-620X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Brosnan, C https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2104-4937	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Frawley, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6037-0140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wardle, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8813-3542	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Collins, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Leach, M	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Collegian, 2018, 25 (3), pp. 285 - 291	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1322-7696	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129339
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Australian College of Nursing Ltd Background:: Many people integrate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their health care. Nurses potentially play a significant role in communicating with patients about their CAM utilisation. Aim:: The study aimed to explore whether, how and why nurses working in Australia communicate about patients’ CAM use. Methods:: This paper reports on phase one of a mixed methods study. Qualitative data was obtained, via interviews, with nineteen registered nurses who work in a wide variety of clinical environments across all states of Australia. Findings:: Four themes related to nurses’ communication with patients about CAM, were developed from the qualitative data; engaging with patients about CAM, communication with doctors about patients’ use of CAM, connecting with CAM practitioners and barriers to CAM communication. Discussion:: Despite their positive attitudes, nurses are often not comfortable discussing or documenting patients’ CAM use. Furthermore, nurses perceive that patients may be apprehensive about disclosing their use. CAM communication with colleagues is moderated by the workplace culture and the perceived attitude of co-workers. There is very little evidence of nurses referring or collaborating with CAM practitioners. Professional expectation, time restraints and the nurses’ lack of relevant CAM knowledge all have a powerful effect on limiting CAM communication. Conclusion:: Communication about patients’ use of CAM is imperative to support safe therapeutic decisions. Currently, this is limited in the Australian healthcare workplace. The nursing professional needs to consider introducing basic CAM education and flexible guidelines to enable nurses’ to respond appropriately to the patient driven demand for CAM.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Collegian	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.colegn.2017.09.001	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.title	Nurses’ communication regarding patients’ use of complementary and alternative medicine	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	25	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	25	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Australian College of Nursing Ltd Background:: Many people integrate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their health care. Nurses potentially play a significant role in communicating with patients about their CAM utilisation. Aim:: The study aimed to explore whether, how and why nurses working in Australia communicate about patients’ CAM use. Methods:: This paper reports on phase one of a mixed methods study. Qualitative data was obtained, via interviews, with nineteen registered nurses who work in a wide variety of clinical environments across all states of Australia. Findings:: Four themes related to nurses’ communication with patients about CAM, were developed from the qualitative data; engaging with patients about CAM, communication with doctors about patients’ use of CAM, connecting with CAM practitioners and barriers to CAM communication. Discussion:: Despite their positive attitudes, nurses are often not comfortable discussing or documenting patients’ CAM use. Furthermore, nurses perceive that patients may be apprehensive about disclosing their use. CAM communication with colleagues is moderated by the workplace culture and the perceived attitude of co-workers. There is very little evidence of nurses referring or collaborating with CAM practitioners. Professional expectation, time restraints and the nurses’ lack of relevant CAM knowledge all have a powerful effect on limiting CAM communication. Conclusion:: Communication about patients’ use of CAM is imperative to support safe therapeutic decisions. Currently, this is limited in the Australian healthcare workplace. The nursing professional needs to consider introducing basic CAM education and flexible guidelines to enable nurses’ to respond appropriately to the patient driven demand for CAM.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/129339