Attitudes, beliefs, and practices of integrative medicine among nurses in the Netherlands

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed the attitude, beliefs, and practices of integrative medicine (IM) among nurses in the Netherlands.

Design: Subscribers of a Dutch nursing journal were asked to fill in an anonymous, structured, online survey related to the topic under study.

Results: A total of 355 people responded, of which 37% were familiar with the concept of IM in advance. On completion of the survey, the majority (83%) considered IM as a (very) important innovation in health care. Familiarity (odds ratio = 3.20; 95% confidence interval [1.48, 6.94]) and organization (nursing home compared to hospital (odds ratio = 5.98; 95% confidence interval [1.36, 26.23]) were characteristics associated with a positive attitude toward IM. Between 23% and 46% of respondents encountered obstacles regarding implementation of IM. The main obstacles were lack of support (69% to 78%), means (57% to 85%), and time (63% to 70%).

Conclusions: Dutch nurses seem to have relatively positive attitudes and beliefs regarding IM. The outcome of this survey may contribute an increased awareness of the key role that nurses can play in the development and implementation of IM.

Keywords: complementary and alternative; integrative medicine; medicine; nurse attitudes; survey.