Beyond the Bedside: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Nursing Roles in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is increasingly integrated into healthcare to manage symptoms and improve well-being in cancer patients. Nurses, with their holistic approach, are key in delivering these therapies. A synthesis of evidence on nurses' roles, the CAM interventions they provide, and patient outcomes is needed.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence from Randomized Controlled Trial (RCTs) on the roles of nurses in delivering CAM, the types of interventions used, target populations, and clinical outcomes achieved.

Methods: A systematic search of major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science) was conducted for RCTs investigating nurse-delivered CAM interventions with measurable patient outcomes.

Results: Analysis of 95 RCTs showed that nurses primarily delivered CAM as direct practitioners (73.7% of studies). The most common interventions were mindfulness and massage, each reported in 23.2% of studies. Key target populations included oncology patients (24.2% of studies) and geriatric patients (18.9% of studies). Regarding clinical outcomes, pain reduction was the most frequently reported significant finding (40% of studies), followed by decreased anxiety (32.6% of studies), decreased depression (24.2% of studies), and improved sleep (18.9% of studies). Secondary benefits reported included reduced fatigue, gastrointestinal/respiratory symptoms, opioid use, and hospital stays

Conclusion: This review confirms that nurses are central providers of evidence-based CAM, delivering a wide range of therapies that significantly improve physical and psychological outcomes across diverse clinical settings. The findings support the formal integration of CAM training into nursing education and the creation of nurse-led CAM services to enhance holistic, patient-centered care