Does nurses' role, health or symptoms influence their personal use of ingestible complementary and alternative medicines?

- Front line workers with demanding workloads impacting their physical health and linked to symptoms, use ingestible biological CAM.
- These biologically-based CAM treatments appear to achieve some success in enabling these nurses and midwives to continue working and avoid sickness absence.
- Better understanding of nurses' and midwives' knowledge, attitudes and use of CAM can be used to better prepare this workforce to make sound recommendations for patients and the community.

ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of work-related characteristics, health, health behaviours and symptoms on ingestible biologically-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use within the Australian nursing and midwifery workforce.BackgroundCAM use is widespread worldwide, but there is little research into nurses' and midwives' personal use of ingestible CAM in Australia.MethodsAn online survey in 2014-15 used validated instruments and items to examine use of ingestible biologically-based CAM (herbs, foods and vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and other supplements), and the health and work-related characteristics of 5041 nurses and midwives recruited through the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association and professional networks.ResultsA small proportion of nurses (6.8%) identified as personal CAM users. Most were female, older, worked in foundational roles (frontline Registered and Enrolled Nurses/Midwives) and used one CAM, most commonly a multivitamin, although Vitamin D, Fish Oil, Calcium and Glucosamine ± Chondroitin were also common. In comparison to non-users, CAM users were less likely to take sick days or indulge in risky drinking, but more likely to be symptomatic (with stiff joints, bodily/joint pain, severe tiredness, allergies, indigestion/heartburn), diagnosed with osteoarthritis and to adhere to healthy diet recommendations.ConclusionsFindings showed a credible pattern of front line workers with physically demanding workloads that impact their physical health and are linked to frequent symptoms, using CAM treatments and achieving some success in being able to continue working and avoid sickness absence. Further investigation is warranted to protect and maintain the health of the nursing and midwifery workforce.