Background of the Study
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to medical practices that are used alongside or instead of conventional treatments. CAM practices include herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and various forms of spiritual healing (Akinmoladun et al., 2023). Globally, there has been an increasing interest in CAM, with many patients seeking these therapies as adjuncts to traditional medical treatments. In Nigeria, the use of CAM is prevalent, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, and healthcare workers, including nurses, are often faced with the challenge of integrating these practices into conventional healthcare settings (Olumide et al., 2024).
At Taraba State Specialist Hospital, nurses are likely to encounter patients who use CAM therapies alongside conventional treatments. Nurses’ awareness of CAM practices is important for ensuring that they can appropriately assess patients’ health needs, provide safe care, and avoid potential interactions between conventional treatments and CAM therapies (Omotayo et al., 2023). Despite the growing use of CAM in Nigeria, there is limited research on the level of awareness among nurses regarding these practices. Nurses who are unfamiliar with CAM may struggle to provide comprehensive care, which can lead to the risk of adverse effects or missed opportunities for holistic patient care.
This study seeks to appraise the level of awareness among nurses at Taraba State Specialist Hospital regarding CAM practices, with the goal of identifying the extent to which they are familiar with these therapies and the potential challenges they face in incorporating them into their nursing practice.
Statement of the Problem
Despite the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine in Nigeria, the awareness and understanding of these practices among nurses remains largely unexplored. Nurses at Taraba State Specialist Hospital, who are often involved in patient care, may lack the knowledge necessary to manage patients who use CAM therapies. This lack of awareness could lead to gaps in patient care, such as adverse drug interactions, misunderstandings, and inadequate patient counseling. This study aims to assess the level of awareness of CAM practices among nurses at Taraba State Specialist Hospital and explore how this knowledge influences their approach to patient care.
Objectives of the Study
Research Questions
Research Hypotheses
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study will focus on nurses employed at Taraba State Specialist Hospital and their awareness of complementary and alternative medicine practices. The study will not include other healthcare professionals, such as doctors or pharmacists, although they may also interact with CAM in patient care.
Limitations of the study include the potential for recall bias in self-reported data. Additionally, the study will be cross-sectional, which may not fully capture long-term trends in nurses’ awareness or the evolution of CAM practices.
Definitions of Terms
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