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Complementary therapy (CT) can be defined as non-orthodox treatments whose therapeutic explanations usually lie outside the traditional Western biomedical model. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) categorizes many common health practices as forms of CT. Included in the NCCAM taxonomy are chiropractic manipulation, massage, herbs and nutritional supplements.
The recent dramatic rise of complementary therapy (CT) use among the general population is well-documented (e.g., Eisenberg et.al.,1998). Because of this large increase, there is a strong interest among health professionals regarding the integration of CT within their clinical practice. This interest is especially keen regarding the practice of midwives who care for their clients within a holistic model (Raisler, 1999).
Limited aspects of midwifery CT use in the care of their clients has been investigated, yet much remains unclear (McFarlin, Gibson, O'Rear, & Harman, 1999). Hence, the purpose of this descriptive, correlational pilot study was to examine selected dimensions of clinical CT integration in the practice of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives.
Specifically, this study addressed two questions:
Methods
The investigators uploaded an untested 11-item interactive survey to an internet service provider's server. It asked questions regarding a respondent's demographic profile, personal CT use and the inclusion of CT in that midwife's practice. Although the survey did have face validity, it was not evaluated by recognized experts in CT, midwifery or by any statistical reliability analysis--thus, it cannot be considered valid or reliable for measuring midwifery CT practice. A textual summary of the confidential nature of the study preceded the survey. Readers were informed that submission of a completed survey implied their consent.
The investigators randomly selected a sample of 250 certified midwives with email addresses listed in the 1999 ACNM Membership Practice Directory. An email was sent to each midwife inviting that person to access and complete a survey on the World Wide Web. The invitation to participate was conditioned on whether the midwife had actively practiced midwifery during the preceding 12 months.
The email included an Uniform Resource Locator address for the survey. Thirty-two percent (n=80) of the emails were returned to the investigators "undeliverable". Assuming that the remaining 170 emails were delivered and read by the addressees, 31.8% of the contacted midwives responded to the survey for a sample size of 54.
Results (please click on titles)
Discussion (please click on titles)
Appendices (please click on titles)
