An Integrative Review of Nursing for Cancer Patients Engaging in Complementary and Alternative Medicine—Components of Core Competencies—

Abstract

Objective: Using integrative review, this study aims to identify and clarify the components of core competencies in nursing for cancer patients who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Method: Ichu-shi Web, MEDLINE, CINAHL, CiNii books, and WorldCat were searched for various types of research papers, commentaries, and books by combining search terms such as “CAM,” “cancer,” “clinical ability,” and “professional ability.” The extracted data was analyzed using a qualitative inductive method.

Results: A total of 39 articles were adopted: ten qualitative studies, eight quantitative studies, four mixed studies, ten reviews, and seven commentaries. Results of the analysis identified 5 knowledge categories including “Basic knowledge about CAM including pharmacological effects and history” and “Types of CAM modalities used to manage symptoms of the cancer itself as well as cancer treatment,” 11 skills categories including “Ability to carefully examine own CAM knowledge and update information” and “Evaluation of CAM usage status based on patient’s current health status and target health status,” and 4 attitudes and values categories including “Respecting patient values and wishes regarding CAM” and “Open attitude toward CAM and CAM users.”

Conclusion: The findings suggest that core competencies are characterized as the ability to support patients in achieving their goals by fostering nurse–patient relationships grounded in knowledge acquisition and by applying the attitudes and skills developed through experience in cancer nursing.