ETD RECORD
An investigation on the education and use of complementary and alternative therapies by nurses in personal and professional practice
Citation
Downey, Margaret M.. (2007). An investigation on the education and use of complementary and alternative therapies by nurses in personal and professional practice. Theses and Dissertations Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/etd/items/etd_67.html
- Title:
- An investigation on the education and use of complementary and alternative therapies by nurses in personal and professional practice
- Author:
- Downey, Margaret M.
- Date:
- 2007
- Keywords:
- Nurses--Education Alternative medicine
- Program:
- Education
- Abstract:
- Health practitioners and health educators are rapidly recognizing the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and therapies (CAT) as a common form of health promotion and care for individuals in the United States. Therapies such as herbal medicine, massage, chiropractic, spiritual healing, imagery, energy healing, homeopathy, acupuncture, biofeedback, yoga, and prayer used without the use of traditional western medicine are considered "alternative therapies". If these therapies are integrated with western medicine they are considered "complementary". It is important that health care providers, such as nurses and physicians, become educated and knowledgeable about CAM/CAT in order to be safe and effective clinicians.;A mixed method study utilizing quantitative descriptive statistics and qualitative exploratory interviews was conducted in order to investigate the current status of educational background and practice of CAM/CAT by nurses for their personal and professional use in a northwestern region of the United States. The questions in the study focused on whether education and personal use of CAM/CAT influences the nurses' motivation to implement these therapies into their professional practice and to seek continuing education for this practice.;Results for the quantitative data indicate that nurses who were educated greater than 10 years prior to the study had less knowledge of CAT than those educated in the past 10 years. In spite of the discrepancy in education on CAT the majority of respondents utilize some form of CAT in personal and professional health practice. Commonly used CAT among specialty nurse practices are discussed as well as benefits and barriers to use of CAT.
- Description:
- Thesis (Ph. D., Education)--University of Idaho, December 2007.
- Major Professor:
- Charles Gagel.
- Defense Date:
- December 2007.
- Type:
- Text
- Format Original:
- xi, 180 leaves ;29 cm.
- Format:
- record
Rights
- Rights:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/