PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Complementary Therapies”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The patient's motivation in seeking complementary therapies.

The motivations of cancer patients in seeking complementary therapies are, fundamentally, self-healing motivations which, when engaged appropriately, can contribute to the patient's psychological and physical well being. In this paper, we apply a theoretical model, the Risk Adaptation Model, to furthering the clinical understanding of the motivations of cancer patients in seeking complementary therapies. The model identifies six discrete cognitive processes which, in combination, are hypothesized to play a central role in therapy seeking. Emphasis in this model is placed on the patient's need to maintain positive expectancies (optimism) when faced with the risk and uncertainty of cancer. This understanding of complementary-therapy seeking is grounded in the perspective that clinicians must respect the autonomy of cancer patients in their quest for appropriate therapies, and assist rather than direct their process of therapy-seeking.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complementary therapies: introduction into a nursing curriculum.

With the increasing use of complementary therapies by the general population, nursing faculty are challenged to educate their students about these therapies. The authors designed a course to provide students with a broad overview of selected complementary therapies commonly used in the United States. In preparation for the course, the authors evaluated graduate nursing students' awareness, use, and practice patterns of complementary therapies in their rural state. A high percentage (82%) of those students thought it was important for healthcare professionals to understand complementary therapies. The course has been offered three times, once using an interactive video network and twice using a 5-day workshop format.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Is there a place for complementary therapies in the accident and emergency department?

This paper addresses the potential for complementary therapies in the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department. It is suggested that whilst there are a number of therapies which may be efficacious in emergency settings, nurses need to consider the broader implications of their use in the A & E department. The organisational context of the A & E department and the nature of such acute work means that complementary therapies will probably be used as therapeutic techniques rather than discrete therapeutic entities. It is suggested that this approach is not dissimilar to the use of complementary therapies in other nursing specialities. The use of complementary therapies as techniques enhancing therapeutic care may, in the short term, be beneficial, however nurses need to reflect and reappraise what it is they are actually doing and the extent to which they can reconcile two apparently opposite paradigms of health care. The use of complementary therapy techniques have considerable potential in the care of clients attending A & E departments and examples of therapies and conditions for which it could be used are given.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complementary therapy use among older cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of complementary therapies among older cancer patients, to report patterns of use, and to understand who is more likely to use complementary therapies. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: A survey was conducted of 699 older cancer patients at 4 weeks and 6 weeks into cancer treatment. All participants were 64 years of age or older, had received a diagnosis of breast, colorectal, prostate, or lung cancer, and were recruited from community cancer treatment centers throughout Michigan. Measures of interest included self-reported physical symptoms, depressive symptomatology, optimism, spirituality, and use of conventional and complementary health services. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of older cancer patients reported using complementary therapies. These individuals were more likely to be women, to be breast cancer patients, and to have a higher level of education. The three most frequently used therapies were exercise, herbal therapy, and spiritual healing. Complementary therapy users were significantly more optimistic than nonusers. Also, there were significant differences between users and nonusers on types of physical symptoms experienced, but no differences on reported depressive symptomatology or spirituality. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Oncology providers need to be aware that one third of their older patients are likely to supplement conventional care with complementary therapies. Therefore, providers should be knowledgeable about the safety and efficacy, in particular, of various exercise programs, herbal and vitamin therapies, and spiritual healing. It would be beneficial to develop a system within cancer centers by which patients could easily report on their use of complementary therapies, allowing providers to work in partnership with their patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Tailor-made and standardized therapy: complementary tasks in behavior therapy. A contrarian view.

In medicine, decisions about treatment selection are mainly based on clinical diagnoses, whereas behavior therapists have typically assumed that it is necessary to tailor treatments based on individual problem analyses. However, various studies (including our own using patients with phobic anxieties) have failed to demonstrate an advantage for this procedure. At least for some disorders, clinical diagnosis appears to be a relevant and sufficient criterion for treatment selection. A process model is presented that views treatment individualization and standardization as complementary strategies. Although the application of techniques should be standardized as much as possible, translating general method rules into a concrete intervention for a particular person will remain a task of individualization. Individualization will also remain necessary for the other primary task of the therapist: promoting basic patient behavior that is conducive to treatment and a precondition for the successful application of interventions.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed2001

Complementary therapy use by nursing, pharmacy and biomedical science students.

Attitudes towards the use of complementary therapies by students of undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences were determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall, 78% of students had used a complementary therapy in the past year and 56% had visited a complementary therapy practitioner. The therapies most used were those involving vitamins, mineral and other supplements. Practitioners specializing in this area were the most visited, followed by chiropractors. Commonly used products included vitamin C, multivitamins, B group vitamins, garlic, iron and echinacea. Most students thought complementary therapies improved quality of life, with friends and family providing the main sources of information. There were few differences attributable to course or gender. The results suggest that these students have favorable attitudes towards complementary therapies and that many choose to use them as part of normal health care.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Complementary therapies in practice: the ethical issues.

This article explores some of the ethical issues associated with the use of complementary therapies in practice. The adopted terminology and related concepts are clarified. The term 'complementary therapy' is compared and contrasted with 'alternative medicine' and 'non-conventional therapy'. The increasing emphasis on holistic nursing care is also discussed. Ethical issues of patient choice, informed consent and the principle of beneficence are examined in relation to complementary therapies. The article highlights the obligation of the nurse, midwife or health visitor to provide or facilitate holistic care including complementary therapies, such as massage or aromatherapy, for those clients who request such care, and where it can be demonstrated that there will be benefits for the patient. It is concluded that nurses should consider the possibility of incorporating or facilitating certain complementary therapies in their practice in order to benefit their patients. There is a corresponding need for an appropriate knowledge base, founded on nursing research, into the effectiveness and outcomes of complementary therapies. In addition, relevant educational courses should be developed.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1999

Use of complementary therapies in a rural cancer population.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To document how people living in rural areas use of intend to use complementary therapies and to determine demographic factors related to the use of these therapies. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Three cancer treatment clinics and one support group located in the rural Midwest. SAMPLE: 53 people with cancer, predominantly Caucasian, ages 42-91. METHODS: Nurses distributed the previously tested investigator-developed Complementary Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS). Clients who wished to participate completed the survey and mailed it to the primary researcher. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Use of complementary therapies, client ratings of effectiveness, and demographic variables. FINDINGS: 87% of the clients were using at least one complementary therapy. Prayer, humor, and support group attendance were the most popular. Women, younger clients, support group members, and those who lived closer to town had significantly higher scores on the CTRS. CONCLUSIONS: More rural people with cancer reported using complementary therapies than could have been predicted from the available literature. However, most literature focuses on alternative cancer treatment as opposed to use of complementary therapies were easily available and inexpensive and have no known side effects. More research is needed on the effectiveness of these therapies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Workshops or research projects involving complementary therapies should include those therapies that people with cancer frequently use. Younger clients and women may be most interested in participating, and projects should be scheduled to avoid frequent trips into town.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of an educational intervention on oncology nurses' attitude, perceived knowledge, and self-reported application of complementary therapies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of an educational program on oncology nurses' attitude, perceived knowledge, and self-reported application of 10 complementary therapies (art, exercise, humor, imagery, journaling, massage, music, relaxation, spirituality, and touch). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental with a pre- and post-test design. SETTING: A large tertiary care medical center in the midwestern United States. SAMPLE: A convenience sample consisting of 44 RNs working on two hematology and oncology patient care units. Eleven nurses comprised the educational intervention group, and 14 nurses on the same unit served as one control group. A second control group was comprised of 19 nurses from a different unit. METHODS: The study approach consisted of the assessment of all participants' initial attitude toward, knowledge of, and application of complementary therapies. A researcher-developed questionnaire was completed before and at three and six months after the educational intervention. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Nurses' attitudes toward, knowledge of, and use of complementary therapies. FINDINGS: Nurses value complementary therapies but lack the knowledge regarding their application. In addition, a gap exists between self-reported knowledge and the actual application of therapies. An eight-hour educational intervention was useful in enhancing knowledge and, to some degree, increasing application of some of the therapies. According to participants, lack of time was the main deterrent impeding use of complementary therapies in their nursing practice. CONCLUSIONS: Education can affect the knowledge and integration of complementary therapies in nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Further research is needed to evaluate outcomes and determine educational approaches that will produce positive changes in nurses' attitudes toward, knowledge of, and application of complementary therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Sustaining complementary therapy provision in primary care: lessons from existing services.

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors which sustain complementary therapy services in primary care in order to inform policy making in a context of rapid change. DESIGN: In-depth qualitative case studies, including semi-structured interviews with key informants. SETTING: 10 existing schemes of complementary therapy provision in primary care across England. RESULTS: GPs and complementary practitioners reported wide-ranging benefits from complementary therapy provision in primary care. However, they felt that their ability to sustain complementary therapy provision was mediated by a) funding, b) the need for research, and c) appropriate service delivery mechanisms. a) Many schemes were the result of and sustained by personal vision. As such they had negotiated a variety of funding sources over a considerable period, against a background perception that continued funding was uncertain. b) Most informants believed that more research was needed to provide a solid evidence base for service continuation and development, in particular clinical and cost-effectiveness work. c) The manner of service delivery, notably whether a service was located within a general practice or in a referral centre, was seen as having implications for the integration of practitioners and for patient access to services. CONCLUSIONS: Current complementary therapy provision in primary care has developed on an 'ad hoc' basis. In particular, the existence of GP fundholding in the 1990s, in which primary care physicians were able to purchase health services on a practice basis, facilitated the development of services in this way. Within the current Primary Care Group context, where purchasing decisions are made collectively by a group of general practices within a region, consideration needs to be given to both the continuity of schemes already in existence and to whether a more standardized approach to service development will be required to facilitate sustainable provision.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2001

State boards of nursing and scope of practice of registered nurses performing complementary therapies.

This article provides a report of State Boards of Nursing (BONs) policies on the use of complementary therapies by registered nurses. This investigation was conducted for the White House Commission on Complementary Alternative Medicine Policy. The target sample for this report was fifty-three BONs in the United States. Forty-seven percent of the BONs had taken positions that permitted nurses to practice a range of complementary therapies; thirteen percent were in the process of discussing this matter; and forty percent, although they had not formally addressed the topic, did not necessarily discourage these practices. The results of this study can be used to encourage more discussion among the BONs and within states about nurses practice of complementary therapies. Nurses are encouraged to become aware of their state s position regarding complementary therapy and to facilitate the integration of complementary therapies into their work environment.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2000

Normal medical practice of referring patients for complementary therapies among Australian general practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the extent to which general practitioners (GPs) accept complementary therapies as normal medical practice. DESIGN: An examination of two Australian surveys of GPs undertaken in Tasmania and Victoria in 1997. OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of referral (to doctors or non-medical therapists) and therapy. Levels of acceptance. Basis for judgement of acceptability. RESULTS: In Tasmania 66% of GPs referred patients to doctors - primarily for acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Fifty-five per cent referred patients to non-medical practitioners - primarily for chiropractic, massage and osteopathy. In Victoria the rate of referral was 93%. Most GPs accepted acupuncture as a normal, but not orthodox, therapy. There are varying levels of acceptance of other complementary therapies and GPs judge by assessing safety and therapeutic value. CONCLUSION: Some complementary therapies are clearly part of normal, if not orthodox, practice in Australia. Discussion of complementary therapies in medicine must consider the differential levels of acceptance of different therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Incidence of complementary therapy use in patients undergoing vestibular assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of use of complementary therapies in patients with vestibular symptoms undergoing vestibular assessment. DESIGN: A prospective, questionnaire-based study. SETTING: A UK university hospital department of audiology with secondary and tertiary referrals. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive series of 80 patients seen for vestibular assessment between November 2004 and May 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of complementary therapies; actual therapies used and patients' subjective opinion of efficacy. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (16 per cent) had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Ginkgo biloba and acupuncture were the two most popular treatments. Seven patients made their decision as to which treatment to try on the basis of personal recommendation. Six of the 13 patients (46 per cent) reported that their choice of treatment(s) helped them. CONCLUSIONS: Sixteen per cent of patients seen for vestibular assessment had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this and of the potential interactions between complementary therapies and conventional medicine.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How people with HIV/AIDS manage and assess their use of complementary therapies: a qualitative analysis.

The objective of this article is to provide a qualitative analysis of the practical concerns that people with HIV/AIDS have with regard to their use of complementary therapies. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with a diverse range of people with HIV/AIDS (N = 46). An inductive grounded approach was used to collect and analyze the data. There were five central concerns: (a) selecting which therapies to use, (b) judging which therapies work, (c) combining Western medicine with complementary therapies, (d) assessing the safety of complementary therapies, and (e) dealing with the barriers to the use of complementary therapies. A better understanding of the practical dimensions of complementary therapy use highlights the treatment and care issues that people with HIV/AIDS face and offers insights into the role that nurses might play in addressing some of these issues.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗