Perspectives on future research

Nursing's commitment to the generation of high-quality, cost-effective patient outcomes requires that a sound scientific basis for practice be established. Interest in complementary therapies is encountered in a broad range of healthcare practice settings. This chapter presents the need for more evidence to support the expanding use of complementary therapies in practice. It explores research designs appropriate for the study of complementary therapies. The chapter also describes the overall state of research on complementary therapies and identifies implications for the state of evidence and expanded use of complementary therapies in future nursing research. Nurses have conducted research on a number of complementary therapies, however, there is a great need for nurses and scientists in other disciplines to develop ongoing programs of research related to specific complementary therapies, particularly from a holistic, whole-person perspective. As primary care providers, nurses are in an excellent position to address patients' need for complementary therapies.