Chinese Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Traditional Chinese Medicine

Knowledge of medical professionals, their practices, and their attitudes toward traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019: A survey in Sichuan, China

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of medical professionals toward Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). All 401 medical professionals were surveyed using an anonymous with an investigator using the Questionnaire star APP. The participants answered 14 questions; of the 401 participants, 55.2% agreed with the statement “TCM can be used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19,” 40.4% remained neutral, and 4.4% disagreed. Moreover, 75.3% agreed with the statement “There is no specific drug for COVID-19,” 67% agreed with the statement “TCM can develop immunity to COVID-19” and 62.1% agreed with “TCM can alleviate the symptoms of patients with COVID-19.” Meanwhile, 69.1% were aware that TCM has been recommended for COVID-19 by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Regarding the selection of sources of knowledge on whether “TCM can be used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19,” There were 277, 123, 82, 369, and 17 participants selected sources from “Hospital training,” “Academic journals,” “Academic Conferences,” “Social media platforms (such as WeChat)” and “Others,” respectively. Further, 358 participants will take TCM for the prevention of COVID-19. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age, major and received TCM treatment within the last five years were independent factors affecting the participants’ attitudes. In the absence of specific drugs for COVID-19, more than half of the participants agreed that TCM could be used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and most participants are willing to take TCM to prevent COVID-19, although unsure about its effectiveness. The main information sources on TCM for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 were social platforms and hospital training.

Effect of a traditional Chinese medicine course for undergraduate nursing students: A pre-/post-test study

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine is widely used for treating aging-related chronic conditions. Therefore, designing a TCM theoretical course for undergraduate nursing students will be a preparation for further clinical practice in TCM in the future.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the effect of a TCM course designed for undergraduate nursing students on understanding four key parts of TCM theories.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test study.

SETTING

A university in China during the 2016 fall semester.

PARTICIPANTS

A convenience sample of 47 senior undergraduate nursing students.

METHODS

Each pair of pre- and post-tests were conducted before and after one lecture. Four pairs pre-/post-tests were conducted during lectures of fundamental theories, TCM diagnostic principles, herb properties, and treatment principles. Four questionnaires including ten multiple-choice questions were used for pre-/post-tests. Stata 14.0 was used for descriptive analysis and paired t-tests.

RESULTS

Mean scores of post-tests were significantly higher than those of pre-tests (p < 0.001). Among pre-tests, the lowest correctness rates of key contents in the four lectures were the pathological relation of five elements (31.25%), the differentiation of symptoms for a case analysis (16.67%), the compatibility relation (12.77%), and the role of Monarch herbs (also called as "Principal herbs") and the characteristics of herbal pills (29.79%), separately; the highest were the nature of Yin-Yang (87.50%), identifying symptoms for a specific syndrome (85.42%), the herb usage (95.74%), and the principle of prescription composition (85.11%), separately. TCM knowledge in relation of nature of Yin-Yang and Five Elements and basic principles of TCM knowledge gained more increased correctness rates than that related to pathological-based and differentiation of symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The TCM course has a positive effect to enhance TCM knowledge of undergraduate nursing students. The students were easier to gain TCM fundamental knowledge and principles than pathological based knowledge and differentiation of symptoms.

Experiences and Attitudes of Nurses Regarding Complementary Health Approaches Used by Themselves and Their Patients

Nurses' attitudes and experiences may affect the level of patient exposure to complementary health approaches (CHA), both now and in the future. The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' experience of CHA and their personal and professional attitudes to the use of CHA. The sample consisted of 220 nurses working at a university hospital in Antalya, Turkey. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers. Nurses had a positive attitude toward CHA and reported mixed experiences of CHA for allergies, pain, and stress. This study may contribute to increased awareness of the potentially important role of nurses in delivery of CHAs. Hospital nurses should receive more training on CHA. Nurses should discuss the potential benefits and risks of CHA with patients.

Nurses' beliefs, experiences and practice regarding complementary and alternative medicine in Taiwan

AIM

To gain an insight into this issue, this study used a qualitative approach and aims to explore and describe nurses' beliefs, experiences and practice regarding complementary and alternative medicine in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND

The integration of complementary and alternative medicine with conventional medicine has become more common worldwide in recent years. An increase in patient use and an expansion of nurses using complementary and alternative medicine has spawned further investigation. Most published studies have concentrated on the usage of complementary and alternative medicine in western societies and have focused principally on physicians' attitudes and practice patterns in this regard. Despite the large amount of time and the unique relationship that nurses share with their patients, little research has investigated the nurse's attitudes and practice regarding complementary and alternative medicine. Moreover, there has been no previous research into understanding this issue from the Taiwanese nursing perspective.

DESIGN

A qualitative research design.

METHOD

By using an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative approach, data were collected from 11 registered nurses. The methods of the data collection were in-depth, semi-structured interviews, field notes and memos and the data were analysed using the constant comparative method.

RESULTS

Three major categories emerged from the data; namely, a 'lack of clear definition', 'limited experience' and 'high interest' towards complementary and alternative medicine. These results suggest that the definition of complementary and alternative medicine is often unclear for nurses in Taiwan. Due to the organisational policies and personal knowledge base, very few nurses integrate complementary and alternative medicine into their daily practice. However, the nurses in Taiwan show a great desire to participate in complementary and alternative medicine continuing education programmes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is not only significant in filling the gap in the existing literature, but is also important in understanding this issue from the nurses' perspective, to offer a series of recommendations for policy, nursing education, nursing practice and suggestions for further research.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study highlights the importance of nursing attitude in the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Clinical nurses have the potential to provide appropriate information to their patients to ensure safe complementary and alternative medicine use.

A Cross-cultural Study of the Back Pain Beliefs of Female Undergraduate Healthcare Students

OBJECTIVES

To determine if country (Australia, Taiwan, Singapore), undergraduate healthcare course (physiotherapy, nursing), low back pain (LBP) history, and year of course influenced various back pain beliefs in undergraduate female healthcare students.

METHODS

Three hundred and 82 female undergraduate nursing and physiotherapy students completed questionnaires examining; the inevitability of future life with low back trouble, the LBP beliefs held by healthcare providers and fear avoidance beliefs related to physical activity. Also participants completed questionnaires to determine their LBP status. General linear models were used to determine whether differences existed for back beliefs scores.

RESULTS

Differences were evident in the future consequence of LBP between countries (P<0.001), undergraduate course (P<0.001), and LBP status (P=0.021). Healthcare provider beliefs were found to be significantly influenced by course only (P<0.001). Fear avoidance beliefs related to physical activity were influenced by country (P=0.002) and undergraduate course (P<0.001). When compared with white Australians, Taiwanese and Singaporean Chinese displayed more negative back beliefs regarding the future consequence of LBP (P<0.001) and more fear avoidant beliefs toward physical activity (P=0.021 and P<0.001, respectively). Further, nursing students had more negative back pain beliefs than physiotherapy students (P<0.001) and, the experience of LBP was associated with more positive beliefs on the future consequence of back trouble (P=0.021).

DISCUSSION

Findings of this study highlight the importance of country, education, and LBP experience on back pain beliefs. The more negative back pain beliefs found in Taiwan and Singapore may reflect current pain beliefs and management attitudes.

Necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene associated with topical herbs in an infant

A 4-mo-old Chinese infant developed necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene from a small skin infection on his buttock that was treated with topical herbs. Sequential cultures revealed a number of organisms: Enterococcus species, sensitive to ampicillin, were isolated throughout the course, and coagulasenegative staphylococci replaced gram-negative rods during the later phase of the illness. The infant required prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment and underwent multiple surgical procedures for debridement and reconstruction. This report serves to alert the public of the importance of avoiding application of unknown topical herbs in children with skin disease. A seemingly small wound, if inappropriately treated, may result in extensive tissue destruction and require extensive surgery.