Wallis, MariannePeerson, AnitaYoung, JeanineParkinson, ScottGrant, Sheila2026-01-042026-01-041322-7696ORCID:/0000-0002-7364-5411/work/188807025https://hdl.handle.net/1885/733803535The increasing use of complementary therapies (CTs) by the public requires nurses to be fully informed about the use and safety of these modalities. In addition, nurses need to be aware of what constitutes complementary therapy practice, its overlap with nursing practice and how to respond appropriately to patients' requests for access to and information about CTs. A pilot study that aimed to describe nurses' knowledge about, and the use of CTs was conducted in four hospitals in southeast Queensland, Australia. One hundred and twenty-nine nurses (65% response rate) of varying levels of qualification and expertise completed a questionnaire. Over 80% of the participants indicated that they engaged in some form of complementary therapy (CT) activity. The entire sample worked in acute care hospitals but 5% engaged in CTs while employed in a second job. These nurses worked in either individual private practice or a multidisciplinary clinic setting. Only 2% of the sample had formal qualifications in a specific CT. Many nurses seemed unsure about what should be defined as a CT. The most common CTs engaged in by nurses were massage, music therapy and relaxation techniques but some nurses also participated in acupuncture, acupressure, hypnotherapy and osteopathy. Some nurses were confused about the difference between CT and usual nursing care. In addition, there were knowledge deficits relating to institutional policies and professional standards. Our findings suggest that nurses require more education about the scope of CT and how it differs from nursing practice. Nurses also require access to clear policies about the safe use of CTs in specific practice settings and about appropriate referral of clients to complementary therapists with accredited qualifications.Marianne Wallis RN BSc(Hons) PhD, Chair, Clinical Nursing Research, Griffith University Research Centre for Clinical Practice Innovation and Gold Coast Health Services District, Queensland Email: m.wallis@griffith.edu.au Anita Peerson RN BA(Hons) PhD, Remote Area Nurse, Adelaide River Community Health Service, Northern Territory Jeanine Young RN EM BSc(Hons) PhD, Nursing Director: Research, Education and Staff Development Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland; Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology; Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland Scott Parkinson RN BN(Hons), Nurse Manager, Division of Medicine, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland Sheila Grant RN BN MN, Nursing Research and Projects Officer, Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland7enPublisher Copyright: © 2004 Royal College of Nursing, Australiaalternative therapiesComplementary therapiesnursingscope of practice200410.1016/S1322-7696(08)60470-932644486132