Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Nurses in Western Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used in Saudi Arabia, yet nurses' readiness to provide safe, evidence-informed guidance remains unclear. This study assessed nurses' knowledge, information-seeking ability, attitudes, and practice related to CAM and identified demographic and professional predictors of competency in 2 Ministry of Health tertiary hospitals in the Western Region. A cross-sectional survey of 501 registered nurses used validated measures of CAM familiarity, access to information, attitudes, and practice behaviors. Overall familiarity was low to moderate, and 64.5% reported difficulty locating reliable information. Attitudes were generally positive (42.7% very high), while practice levels were mostly moderate (84.6%); only 7.6% had prior CAM training. Higher education and previous CAM training were significant predictors of better familiarity, information-seeking, and practice. Despite supportive attitudes, gaps in knowledge and training limit safe integration, underscoring the need for structured education and institutional guidance.