Perceptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Clinical Practice Experiences, and Teaching Feedback of Diabetes Specialist Nurses: A Qualitative Study

Jing Wang,1,* Shiyan Ben,2,* Huiqin Li,2,* Hui Wang,2 Yuyao Zhang,2 Yingqun Ni,1 Hong Zhao3 1Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 230031, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 230012, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 230031, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Zhao, Department of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, No. 117 Meishan Road, Hefei City, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86152-5516-2578, Email [email protected]: To explore diabetes specialist nurses’ perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine, their clinical practice experiences, and feedback on the teaching model.Methods: The study conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 21 diabetes specialist nurses who were trained in traditional Chinese medicine nursing, using purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using traditional content analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist for qualitative research was used.Results: Three themes were distilled: A layer-by-layer deepening of traditional Chinese medicine perception, clinical practice experience of traditional Chinese medicine nursing in diabetes and feedback on teaching traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice to diabetes specialist nurses.Conclusion: The province’s diabetes specialist nurse base training program, integrating Chinese and Western medicine, has enhanced the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine nursing among specialist nurses and is highly regarded for its clinical practice experience. It also promotes the dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine culture. However, further optimization, such as extending the duration of clinical practical training in traditional Chinese medicine nursing for diabetes, is needed to meet the demand for high-quality training of diabetes specialist nursing personnel integrating Chinese and Western medicine.Keywords: diabetes specialist nurse, perception, traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice, teaching feedback, qualitative study