Korean J Adult Nurs.  2017 Aug;29(4):441-449. 10.7475/kjan.2017.29.4.441.

Acceptance of Complementary and Alternative Therapy among Nurses: A Q-methodological Study

• Kim AK

• KMID: 2406370
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2017.29.4.441

Abstract

PURPOSE
Perceptions of nurses regarding complementary and alternative therapies(CATs) acceptance illustrate how CATs can be applied in nursing practice and become the empirical basis for the expansion of nursing role. Purpose is to identify nurses' perception of CATs acceptance.
METHODS
A Q-methodological study, which allows for analysis of subjectivity of data, was used. A convenience P-sample was consisted of 36 nurses. Twenty-seven Q-statements were derived from a literature review and interviews with six nurses, and were then categorized on a normal distribution using a 9-point scale. The collected data were analyzed using the QUANAL PC Program.
RESULTS
Three types of perception regarding acceptance of CATs were identified among nurses. Type I was called the "cautious type"; Type II, the "positive acceptance type"; and Type III, the "considering reality type."
CONCLUSION
Along with further exploration of the scientific evidence of CATs, adequate nursing education, and finding ways to overcome the obstacles needed for acceptance of effective and empirically tested CATs into a nursing practice, the results of this study may help promoting application of CATs as a nursing practice.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cats
Complementary Therapies
Education, Nursing
Nursing