Abstract

Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) encompasses practices such as naturopathy, acupuncture, yoga, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, chiropractic, and homeopathy, which are increasingly used alongside conventional medicine. Aim: This study evaluates the perceptions and knowledge of nursing students on the integration of CAM into community health nursing practice. Method: The study was conducted at AIIMS, Bhopal, with a sample of 180 secondyear and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students, as well as first-year MSc nursing students, through a quasi-experimental design. The intervention included a three-day orientation program introducing various CAM therapies under the AYUSH system, followed by a survey assessing students' knowledge and perceptions. Results: Results indicated a significant increase in awareness and positive perceptions towards CAM post-orientation. The majority of students showed a high interest in Yoga, naturopathy, Homeopathy, and Unani therapies. Notably, 59.6% rated the program as excellent, while 38.6% rated it very good. Prior to the program, 31.6% of students were unaware of CAM therapies. Post-program, there was a notable increase in students' appreciation for the faculty's efforts to resolve queries, with 68.4% strongly agreeing that faculty engagement was high. Furthermore, 47.4% of students had prior knowledge of CAM, with 36.8% expressing willingness to work in AYUSH setups. Interestingly, 93% of students would recommend CAM therapies to family and friends. Conclusion: The study underscores the need for integrating structured CAM education into nursing curricula to enhance students' readiness for professional roles in community health settings and to support informed patient care choices.

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