Abstract
The purpose of this study was to help in explaining the necessity of education on complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) and opening relevant curriculums in nursing education by grasping the kinds of CAM in which nursing students want to be opened. Data were collected from September 27, 2003 through October 20, 2003. A group of 865 nursing students were surveyed using questionnaires in seven universities whose curriculums on CAM have not been available. Collected data were statistically analyzed by using SAS 8.02 system, and the study results are as follows: 1. The average of subjects' behavior toward CAM was 3.52 of the total 5 with practical affairs 3.79. medical treatment 3.79, social concerns 3.84, and communication 3.78. 2. Most nursing students $(90.6\%)$ did not precisely understand the meaning of CAM although they had heard of it. Most of them $(85.5\%)$ had no experience of applying CAM. The study also revealed that more qualified CAM lecturers in the future are needed: specialist in the relevant field $(83.2\%)$, doctor and herb doctor $(6.5\%)$, clinical nurse $(6.0\%)$ and professor of the department of nursing science $(4.3\%)$. 3. Concerning students' behavior toward CAM, there were statistically significant difference between students from agrarian and fishing villages (F=4.91. p=.007) and the others. 4. CAM courses that students want were therapeutic touch (massage) $(22.9\%)$. aroma therapy $(14.8\%)$, manual healing methods $(14.7\%)$, treatment of blood vessel $(8.3\%)$, foot reflexology $(7.9\%)$, and heart remedy $(6.8\%)$. In conclusion, the study indicated that nursing students had positive attitudes toward CAM and for this. healers should have a frank talk with patients in order to maximize symptom-relieving effects. However, the study showed that most nursing students did not understand the exact meaning of CAM. Considered the fact that improvement of both health status and quality of life will be an important issue in the future, active introduction and education of CAM in nursing curriculum are a matter of necessity.