Evaluating the confidence level of Traditional Chinese Medicine in nursing undergraduates at Chinese medical university

Abstract Objective To observe the confidence level prevailing with regard to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among undergraduate nursing students who have undertaken TCM courses at Shanxi Medical University. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine. A questionnaire survey was administered through the Questionnaire Star website (https://www.questionstar.com/). The confidence level was examined from 6 aspects, namely cognition of TCM culture and theory, advantages and characteristics of TCM diagnosis and treatment, feelings about TCM achievements, personal behaviors related to TCM, attitudes toward Western medicine, and the future of TCM. The mean score of the observed items was calculated, and was found to be positively related to the confidence level concerning TCM (the score was between 1 and 5). Results A total of 120 participants voluntarily enrolled themselves in the study. The results showed that the mean score of observed items were generally about 4. A relatively strong confidence was shown in understating TCM advantages and characteristics in diagnosis and treatment, and also in feelings toward TCM achievements. Conclusions The majority of nursing undergraduates had confidence in TCM. However, some aspects such as the understanding of TCM culture and the correlation between TCM and Western medicine may need to be improved through education.