Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery
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Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery · Nov 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effects of slow-stroke back massage on anxiety and shoulder pain in elderly stroke patients.
This study explores the effect of slow-stroke back massages on anxiety and shoulder pain in hospitalized elderly patients with stroke. An experimental quantitative design was conducted, comparing the scores for self-reported pain, anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate and pain of two groups of patients before and immediately after, and three days after the intervention. The intervention consisted of ten minutes of slow-stroke back massage (SSBM) for seven consecutive evenings. ⋯ The patients' perceptions of SSBM, determined from a questionnaire, revealed positive support for SSBM for elderly stroke patients. The authors suggest that SSBM is an effective nursing intervention for reducing shoulder pain and anxiety in elderly patients with stroke. From a nursing perspective, this nursing practice provides a challenge and an opportunity for nurses and family caregivers to blend alternative therapies with technology to provide more individualized and holistic patient care.
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Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery · Feb 2004
ReviewPublic, nurse and medical practitioner attitude and practice of natural medicine.
In the past 20 years, the popularity of natural medicine has increased, with nurses and medical practitioners being amongst several groups of clinicians expressing a widespread interest in natural therapies. It is argued that the degree of natural therapy use and the attitudes of these practitioners toward natural medicine may not only influence patient exposure to these therapies, but also have some bearing on the future use of natural medicine. Hence, in a critical review of recent studies, the utilisation of natural therapies and the attitudes of nurses, medical practitioners and the public toward natural medicine are explored.
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Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery · May 2002
ReviewEducation and training of complementary therapists: the role of higher education.
This paper is intended to inform the reader of key issues relating to education and training of complementary therapists. It discusses the role of higher education in the training of complementary therapists in light of changing policy and patterns of course delivery. It highlights the need for professional standards in clinical practice and for training underpinned by an evidence base. The paper presents the need for collaborative working with professions for complementary medicine, indicating some areas of good practice established at the University of Central Lancashire.
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This article is intended for anyone interested in introducing prayer into his or her practice. It outlines the reasons for using prayer and addresses some of the objections put forward by certain professionals. The paper then describesThe Prayer Wheel, a practical non-denominational way to pray and provides instructions on how to present it as an adjunct in health care.