A Complementary and Integrative Care Educational Needs Assessment of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Outpatient Settings

Deficits in patient and provider knowledge in the use of complementary and integrative care (CIC) methodologies resulted in the planned creation of a future CIC educational course for outpatient advanced practice registered nurse practitioners (APRNs) who often serve as a primary source of health education for their patients. A survey, which was based upon the Theory of Bureaucratic Caring and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) knowledge-to-action (KTA) cycle, and incorporated elements of the Complementary and Integrative Health Assessment for Practitioners (CIAHP) and the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Beliefs Inventory (CAMBI), was created to assess the CIC educational needs of APRNs employed in primary care/outpatient settings. Survey participants identified their preferred method of instruction, top areas of CIC topics of interest and occupational applicability, and preferences for CIC educational course design and delivery. A low ratio of survey respondents versus completion rate and the lack of participant occupational and demographical diversity were observed challenges. Survey data supported the need for the creation and implementation of a pending CIC educational course with a goal of mirroring the educational needs of advanced practice registered nurses.