Research Article

Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain

Volume: 16 Number: 3 September 28, 2026
EN TR

Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the use of traditional and complementary medicine methods (T&CM) by operating room and intensive care nurses for managing spinal pain. Material and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted at a Training and Research Hospital in Malatya province. The study sample consisted of 123 operating room and intensive care nurses experiencing spinal pain. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square (χ²) test were used for data analysis. Results: The study found that 32.5% of nurses experiencing spinal pain used at least one method according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health classification. According to the findings, thyme oil was the most commonly used herbal method; vitamin D was the most frequently used among vitamin–mineral and probiotic supplements; progressive muscle relaxation exercises among mind–body methods; massage among manipulative and body-based therapies; therapeutic touch among energy-based therapies; and homeopathy among alternative medical systems. Nearly all nurses who used T&CM methods reported recommending their use. Conclusion: The findings indicate that traditional and complementary medicine use is prevalent among nurses with spinal pain and is associated with socioeconomic factors. The high rate of recommendation by nurses suggests that traditional and complementary medicine have become an integral part of clinical practice. Accordingly, it is recommended to provide nurses with education on the use of T&CM methods to minimize potential adverse effects and to conduct further studies with larger sample sizes.

Keywords

References

  1. 1. Özdemir F, Karaoğlu L, Özfırat Ö. The lifetime and point prevalence of neck, upper back and low back pain of the people living in central Malatya with influencing factors. Pain. 2013;25(1):27-35. https://doi.org/10.5505/agri.2013.96977
  2. 2. Kandemir D, Karaman A, Uğraş GA, Öztekin SD. Examination of Musculoskeletal Pain in Operating Room Nurses. Journal of Education & Research in Nursing. 2019;16(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.5222/HEAD.2019.001
  3. 3. Cavdar I, Karaman A, Ozhanli Y, Ozbas A. Low back pain in operating room nurses and its associated factors. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2020;36(6):1291. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.2836
  4. 4. Mohammadi M, Raiegani AAV, Jalali R, Ghobadi A, Salari N. The prevalence of low back pain among Iranian hospital nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nursing and Midwifery Studies. 2019;8(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.4103/nms.nms_46_18
  5. 5. Sançar B, Taş S, Aktaş D. Determining Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Related Factors in Nurses. Journal of Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing. 2021;8(2):231-238. https://doi.org/10.31125/hunhemsire.968925
  6. 6. Rypicz Ł, Karniej P, Witczak I, Kołcz A. Evaluation of the occurrence of work‐related musculoskeletal pain among anesthesiology, intensive care, and surgical nurses: An observational and descriptive study. Nursing & Health Sciences. 2020;22(4):1056-1064. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12767
  7. 7. Tavakkol R, Kavi E, Hassanipour S, Rabiei H, Malakoutikhah M. The global prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among operating room personnel: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2020;8(4):1053-1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2020.03.019
  8. 8. Yang S, Lu J, Zeng J, Wang L, Li Y. Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among intensive care unit nurses in China. Workplace Health & Safety. 2019;67(6):275-287. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079918809107

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Surgical Diseases Nursing​​

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 28, 2026

Submission Date

February 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 3

APA
Doğan, R., Oltuluoğlu, H., & Aylaz, N. (2026). Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain. Lokman Hekim Dergisi, 16(3), 870-879. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1855672
AMA
1.Doğan R, Oltuluoğlu H, Aylaz N. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026;16(3):870-879. doi:10.31020/mutftd.1855672
Chicago
Doğan, Runida, Hatice Oltuluoğlu, and Nazlıcan Aylaz. 2026. “Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16 (3): 870-79. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1855672.
EndNote
Doğan R, Oltuluoğlu H, Aylaz N (September 1, 2026) Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16 3 870–879.
IEEE
[1]R. Doğan, H. Oltuluoğlu, and N. Aylaz, “Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain”, Lokman Hekim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 870–879, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.31020/mutftd.1855672.
ISNAD
Doğan, Runida - Oltuluoğlu, Hatice - Aylaz, Nazlıcan. “Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16/3 (September 1, 2026): 870-879. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1855672.
JAMA
1.Doğan R, Oltuluoğlu H, Aylaz N. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026;16:870–879.
MLA
Doğan, Runida, et al. “Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 870-9, doi:10.31020/mutftd.1855672.
Vancouver
1.Runida Doğan, Hatice Oltuluoğlu, Nazlıcan Aylaz. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Operating Room and Intensive Care Nurses for Spinal Pain. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;16(3):870-9. doi:10.31020/mutftd.1855672

                                                                                                                                  Creative Commons Lisansı                        
                                                                  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

  

                                    Periodical scientific publication of Mersin University School of Medicine. Can not be cited without reference. Responsibility of the articles belong to the authors

  Cover

Ayşegül Tuğuz

from composition of İlter Uzel named “Dioscorides and his Student

Address

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Tıp Tarihi ve Etik Anabilim Dalı Çiftlikköy Kampüsü

Yenişehir / Mersin