Health care workers' attitudes towards and perceived knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine at Baldwin Area Medical Center

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge levels of and attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by health care professionals at the Baldwin Area Medical Center in Baldwin, Wisconsin. This study was designed to assess the needs of Baldwin Area Medical Center (BAMC) in developing an onsite Continuing Medical Education (CME) program in the area of complementary and alternative medicine. A total of 31 health care workers (18 RN’s, 2 PT’s, 2 MD’s, 1 DO, 1 DC and 7 “Others”) participated in this study. A questionnaire was developed at UW-Stout in collaboration with Baldwin Area Medical Center to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes towards CAM by health care workers as well as any contributing factors. The instrument consisted of over 100 items on four pages. The questionnaire was distributed to health care employees at BAMC in May of 2002. Of the 31 health care workers, 57.7% were licensed 10 or more years prior to participating in the study. 80.6% did not take classes in holistic medicine or CAM prior to becoming licensed. 56.7% had taken classes in CAM after being licensed. The amount of CAM or holistic practices that BAMC employees tried had a statistically significant relationship with their perceived knowledge levels and attitudes towards CAM in patient care. A higher sum total of CAM techniques that were tried by respondents had a significant correlation with agreement with the statement “I feel I have enough knowledge about some CAM practices to be a resource for my patients” (r = .633, p = .000). A higher sum total of CAM techniques that were tried by respondents also had a significant correlation with agreement with the statement “I feel prepared to deliver this type of care” (r = .665, p = .000). Those who had tried more CAM techniques felt they were prepared to deliver this care. The study found that there was an overall neutral feeling of understanding by BAMC staff of some CAM therapies, enough to be a resource for patients, yet most would have liked to incorporate some therapies into practice with more training. This study indicates that there is a need for further education on CAM at Baldwin Area Medical Center.