Complementary and alternative medicine carts in the inpatient rehabilitation unit: Access and nurses' use

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if increased accessibility to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) increases the usage of CAM interventions.

Methods: A prospective pre-post study with a "run-in" design in a hospital with two inpatient rehabilitation floors was used. Data were analyzed with SAS v9.4.

Results: CAM use before implementation was 2.8 (1.0); after implementation, 3.1 (0.56).

Conclusion: Greater access to CAM materials did not significantly increase their use (P = .233). Aromatherapy was used more after increased availability, but heat and cold application decreased. Nurses valued CAM even though independent practice was not fully supported.